NIGHT OWL

In our society today, is it even possible to go car-free?

For some, owning a car equates to higher social status; for others it is about comfort and convenience. Moreover, if we look into the state of our public transportation, it is less appealing as an option for daily commute. 

In 2023, the average daily traffic volume of all kinds of vehicles in Metro Manila reached about 3.63 million, the bulk of which are motorcycles (1.67 million) and cars (1.57 million). This results in more congested roads, pollution, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To reverse this, we must shift to sustainable, low-carbon lifestyle. This can include reducing our dependence on private car use and shifting to other mobility options, such as walking, cycling, and use of public transportation.

The transportation sector contributes about 15 percent of GHG emissions, but buses and trains can reduce this by up to two-thirds per passenger, per kilometer compared to private vehicles, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Moreover, living car-free can reduce a person’s annual carbon footprint by up to 3.6 tons, according to the United Nations.

Is it even possible?

Introducing such radical change would not be easy. Crafting policies will be challenging. But this paradigm shift must start with awareness. People need to be conscious of the consequences of their personal choices. But when options are provided, they must not feel deprived of their personal freedoms. 
Cities can begin in certain streets on specific days to introduce the idea. In Metro Manila, several cities have started to implement car-free Sundays in certain areas in Manila, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Muntinlupa. Other areas in the country, such as in Baguio City and Victorias City also have their respective car-free measures.

Going car-free for even just one day in a week can help set a change in perspective among citizens. But gradually expanding this idea and making it a way of life would require more investments in safe, affordable, efficient and inclusive public transport system.

In Vienna, Austria, which is considered as the most livable city in the world, they invested heavily in improving their public transportation while implementing strategies such as introducing cheaper cost for annual public transport tickets. Since annual tickets are cheaper and the fact that citizens already have it with them, it further motivates them to take public transportation. 

Two years after implementing this strategy, private car use went down from 33 percent to 27 percent, and then it stabilized to 25 percent. They also created shared spaces and improved mobility options by prioritizing pedestrianization, improving walkability, and making investments on cycling infrastructure.

In creating sustainable, car-free cities, governments must develop the right policies and invest in efficient, affordable, eco-friendly public transportation, complemented by cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, so that more citizens will patronize them and rely less on private motor vehicles.

Cities going car-free is indeed a radical approach, but there is a way to slowly introduce the idea and allow people to appreciate going car-lite, and gradually car-free.