Hackney to celebrate International Car-Free Day

Stoke Newington Church Street and other roads across the borough will go car-free tomorrow as part of international Car-Free Day celebrations.

Between 10.30am and 5pm, private motor vehicles will be temporarily banned from a total of 17 streets.

The council is promoting the event as “an opportunity to reimagine what Stoke Newington Church Street could be like with fewer vehicles [which] allows people to see how removing vehicles could improve the environment for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

It is inviting everyone to get involved in the celebrations, which on Church Street include street entertainment, store pop-ups and yoga classes, as the entire street is closed for the day.

People will also be able to try out cargo bikes and get their bikes checked at stalls, says the council.

Map guide to Car Free-Day Church Street

Cllr Jon Burke, Hackney Council cabinet member for energy, waste, transport and public realm, said: “Car-Free Day is a powerful demonstration of how much we could improve our public spaces and tackle poor air quality if we reduce the number of polluting cars on our streets. 

“We’re reclaiming the whole of Church Street for people to enjoy on the day, with lots of fun activities and pop-ups from local shops, who will be spilling out onto the pavement as part of the celebrations.

“There’ll be lots of Play Streets running across the borough too, where roads are reclaimed from cars for play. I can’t wait to join everyone on the day.”

Map guide to Car-Free Day Play Streets

Along with Church Street, 16 “Play Streets” will also celebrate Car-Free Day .

These streets will be closed to through-traffic for the day so that children can play out more safely.

Play Streets, which are run as a partnership between Hackney Council and Hackney Play Association, have been operating in the borough since 2012.

Hackney was the first council in London to introduce official play streets and there are more than 60 play streets and estates operating in the borough.

Twenty-four boroughs, including Hackney, are supporting more than 340 Play Streets across the capital – far exceeding the target of 200.

Fiona Sutherland, deputy director of London Play, said: “London Play is delighted that Car-Free Day has inspired so many Londoners to get involved by opening their own streets up for children to play and residents to meet and chat.

“This could be a beautiful beginning. We hope that the transformation that people see take place in a few short hours will encourage them to go on and apply for regular Play Street sessions, leading to longer term change: healthier, happier children and adults and ultimately stronger communities.”

Across the capital there will be hundreds of free and fun events across 27 km of traffic-free roads, including the classic cycle ride across Tower Bridge and a festival area at Bank Junction, which will be transformed into its first-ever car-free festival space.

The junction will host performances from Grand Union Orchestra, the London International Gospel Choir and East London Dance.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is hoping over 150,000 Londoners will join in London’s Reimagine events which will encourage people to be more eco-friendly and help meet his 80 per cent target for all journeys to be taken via sustainable modes of transport by 2041, compared to the current 63 per cent.

The Mayor said: “I’m really proud that London will be holding its biggest Car-Free Day celebrations on Sunday, and I encourage everyone to join in the fun.

“By enabling Londoners to explore our city without cars and traffic, we will inspire them to walk and cycle as part of their daily routine – something which is crucial to clean up our toxic air.

“I’m delighted that 15 boroughs are hosting their own local Car-Free Day events and 24 boroughs are supporting Play Streets, enabling people across the capital to experience what their streets would be like without cars.”