Give driving a miss for a day and be in with a chance to win a prize

Sunday 22 September is World Car Free day and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are offering drivers in the districts the chance to win a prize – if they give their vehicle a rest on that day.

World Car Free Day has been running for 25 years. Cities, towns and villages take the opportunity to raise awareness of air pollution and air quality by encouraging people to leave their cars at home for the day and choose alternative forms of transport.

Since Clean Air Day on 20 June both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have been urging drivers to turn off their engines if they are stopped for a minute or more as part of their joint anti-idling campaign called Turn It Off. Now the councils are suggesting that drivers turn off their engines for a day!

If drivers in the districts pledge not to use their cars on World Car Free Day on 22 September and then tell the councils how they got around instead – on the train? bus? cycling? walking? kayaking? – they will be entered for a draw for travel vouchers worth £50.

TO ENTER

People simply click on https://survey.southandvale.gov.uk/s/Worldcarfreeday/ and show (using words and photos) what they did on 22 September without their cars. Deadline for entries is 5pm Monday 30 September.

Cllr Jenny Hannaby, cabinet member for the environment at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Air pollution in our districts is something you cannot easily see but it is a problem that affects us all. Evidence shows a lot of our air pollution comes from our cars.”   

Cllr David Rouane, cabinet member for the environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “World Car Free Day offers everyone the opportunity to think about using an alternative means of transport and how that will benefit us in many ways, reducing congestion and improving air quality, as well as giving an opportunity for some healthy exercise.”