Sadiq Khan encourages Londoners to 'reclaim streets' by ditching vehicles for World Car Free Day

The move will aim to encourage walking as local streets turn into festivals for the weekend to celebrate World Car Free Day 2024.

The largest celebration was hosted in 2019 saw thousands of people enjoy traffic-free streets across both central London and community boroughs.

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This year, the car free weekend coincides with the official renaming of the London Overground line, which runs between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon. It will now be called the Windrush Line.

Meanwhile, Hackney Council will also get into the spirit as Hackney Carnival returns after a five-year absence on Sunday, September 22.

Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, explained that the car free weekend will enable "more Londoners to incorporate walking and cycling into their daily lives".

He said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the activation of play streets on Car Free Day, a unique opportunity to transform streets into playful and social spaces, where all members of the community can come together to scoot, bike, walk, space hop and socialise safely.

"I encourage all Londoners to join in the fun and reclaim our streets with this fantastic initiative, which supports our aim for a greener, fairer London for all."

Meanwhile, Fiona Sutherland, director of London Play, detailed how Car Free Day is a great opportunity for Londoners to discover the “joyful potential of the space outside their front doors, free of traffic for a few hours”.

Emma Strain, customer director at Transport for London, urged people across the capital to take advantage of Car Free Day in September.

“Customers travelling on what will become the London Overground Windrush line this autumn, will see stations joining the celebrations,” she added.

Outside of the car free weekend, pedestrians benefit from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods which specifically limit the amount of traffic and vehicles entering the zone.

When in force, LTNs prevent vehicles from entering residential streets to promote walking and cycling. Drivers who enter them could be fined £130, reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days for breaching the rules.

Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley said the council was “very proud” to support Car Free Day and the associated activities.

“By reducing traffic and encouraging alternative modes of transport, we can create safer, more vibrant streets on which everyone can enjoy this year's parade," she stated.

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Research carried out by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme found that London councils issued more than £118million in fines for vehicles entering LTNs between January 2023 and March 2024.