World Car Free Day: Five ways to go car free this Thursday, September 22

In case you haven't heard, it's September 22 - otherwise known as World Car Free Day. Yes, in Auckland, it can often take hours, a minor panic attack and a small miracle to get anywhere without a car but today, it's all in the name of a good cause.

Each year, communities across the globe unite to celebrate the international event, a movement that encourages motorists to jettison the automobile for the day in favour of more earth-friendly modes of transport; highlighting the contribution of petrol and diesel to greenhouse gas emissions that are fuelling the climate crisis. 

This year the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the agency that backs Gen Less, is mobilising Aotearoa to get on board with World Car Free Day by asking Kiwis to ditch the car keys for the climate and opt for more sustainable modes of travel - or no travel at all.

With New Zealand's looming goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the EECA said there's no better time than now for Kiwis to rethink the way they travel to reduce their carbon footprint, hopefully leading to long-term change. Each year New Zealanders spend a collective 146 million hours getting to work with 80 percent of us commuting by car, contributing to traffic, congestion and pollution; more than 20 percent of Aotearoa's energy emissions are from transportation.

Although World Car Free Day is already in full swing, it's never a bad time to do your bit for the planet. Perhaps consider introducing one or two of these ideas per week; after all, reducing the use of your vehicle is the most significant action you can take as an individual to reduce carbon emissions. If a fifth of those who typically travel to work by car chose to switch up their commute at least one day a week, we could avoid a staggering 84,000 tonnes of emissions each year.

With that being said, here are five ways to go car-free this Thursday - or Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 

Biking

Yes, most of us are probably guilty of shaking a fist at a cyclist from the comfort of our cushy car at least once - but biking can be an excellent way of getting around. Not only is it a climate-friendly mode of transportation, it's also a great way to exercise, improve your fitness and get fresh air. For the purists, now's the time to unleash the beast and put the pedal to the… pavement, but electric bikes are also an option, of course. Plan your route in advance by checking your local council's website for more information on cycleways.

On foot

We all know we should be aiming for 10,000 steps a day, but frankly, that's not always feasible - particularly when you're sitting at a desk for eight hours. But swapping your five-minute Uber or quick drive around the block for a brisk walk could be the key to increasing that all-important step count - and decreasing your carbon footprint. If you live in the vicinity of your work or school, walking could be a great alternative to driving or using a rideshare app. You get a dose of fresh air and not to mention, it's free - just make sure to allocate enough time to get to your destination and take precautions if walking at night or in unfamiliar areas. 

Public transport

With regional city councils throughout New Zealand getting behind World Car Free Day, some are celebrating with free bus fares this Thursday. Otherwise, half-price public transport fares are active until January 2023, so now is a great time to take advantage of the reduced cost and hop on a bus or train. Not to mention, vetoing your vehicle in favour of public transport saves you the stress of actually driving; anyone who lives in Auckland knows what I'm talking about (people who sit in the right lane driving at 80km/h, you're the reason I'm getting grey hairs). 

Scooter

Scooters are here to stay, providing a quick, easy, efficient and climate-friendly transport solution in dense metropolitan areas. Just be careful not to mow anyone down on that thing. 

Stay at home

Ah, as if I needed an excuse to do nothing! No plans? No travel. If you don't need to go anywhere this World Car Free Day, working from home or spending the day enjoying your space is a legitimate way to keep one more car off the road. So enjoy that sleep in - all in the name of combating climate change.