I am Car Free Today

World Car-Free Day, observed on 22 September every year, is an opportunity to rethink our dependence on private motor vehicles and experience our cities differently.

The day encourages people to choose walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility for their everyday journeys. It also draws attention to the importance of cleaner air, healthier lifestyles, safer streets, reduced congestion and more inclusive and people-friendly cities.

World Car-Free Day is not simply about giving up cars. It is about recognising that we have choices in how we move and experiencing what our cities can be like when fewer journeys depend on private

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is “I Am Car Free Today”?

   • It is a week-long campaign by PURVCA Foundation from 22–28 September 2026, encouraging people to reduce their dependence on personal vehicles for some of their everyday journeys. The campaign is part of the broader movement around World Car-Free Day on 22 September. The idea is simple: leave your personal vehicle behind for a trip, a day or more, and try another way of getting around.

2. Do I have to be car-free for the entire week?

   • No. You can participate for one trip, one day or multiple days during the campaign week. Even one trip without using your personal vehicle counts as participation.

3. What does “car-free” mean for this campaign?

   • For this campaign, it means reducing your dependence on your personal car for an everyday journey. You can walk, cycle, take a bus or other public transport, or share a ride through carpooling.

4. Does carpooling count?

   • Yes, as a lower-car/shared-mobility option. If you share a ride instead of travelling alone in a personal vehicle, you are reducing the number of vehicles needed for the journey.

5. What kind of trips can I make without my car?

   • Any everyday journey where you would normally consider using your personal vehicle. For example:

     • Going to work

     • Going to college or school

     • Going shopping

     • Going to the gym

     • Meeting friends or family

     • Going out for recreation

     • Running errands

6. What if I cannot go car-free?

   • That's completely fine. There is no pressure. Not everyone has the same travel options or circumstances. The campaign is an invitation to participate if you can and want to.

7. Do I have to participate every day?

   • No. You can participate on any day between 22 and 28 September. You can choose whichever day or days work for you.

8. Do I have to walk or cycle?

   • Walking and cycling are encouraged, but they are not the only options. You can also use:

     • Bus

     • Public transport

     • Walk + public transport

     • Cycle + public transport

     • Carpooling / shared rides

   • Choose whatever option is practical for you.

9. How do I join the campaign?

   • There are two simple things you can do:

   • 1. Take the challenge.
     Leave your personal vehicle behind for a trip, a day or more between 22–28 September.

   • 2. Share your experience.
     Take a photograph, post it on social media, tag PURVCA Foundation's social media pages and mention #IamCarFreeToday . You can then challenge a friend, colleague or family member to participate.

10. Do I have to post on social media?

    • Social-media participation is encouraged because it helps spread the movement, but it is not compulsory. You can participate even if you don't use social media.

11. How can I get my participation counted?

    • After your trip, complete the I Am Car Free Today Participation Form. We will use the information submitted through the form to track campaign participation and maintain a campaign counter here. There will not be any leaderboard

12. What will the campaign counter do?

    • The campaign counter will track three key numbers:

    • People — the number of people who join the campaign.

    • Trips — the number of car-free or lower-car trips reported.

    • Distance — the approximate distance travelled without using a personal car.

13. How will the distance be measured?

    • Participants will provide the approximate distance travelled in kilometres when reporting their trip. If you don't know the distance, you can use Google Maps to get an approximate figure. The distance is intended for campaign tracking, not as a precise scientific measurement.

14. What is counted as a trip?

    • For the campaign, one trip means one journey from an origin to a destination. For example:

    • Home → Office = 1 trip

    • Office → Market = 1 trip

    • Market → Home = 1 trip

    • If you make several separate journeys during the day without using your personal car, you can report them as separate trips.

15. Can I participate more than once?

    • Yes. You can participate on multiple days during the campaign week. Your individual participation will be counted as one person, while each eligible trip you report will contribute to the trip counter.

16. Why are you asking what I would normally have used?

    • This helps us understand whether the reported journey replaced a trip that would normally have been made using a personal car or another mode. It will also help us distinguish between car-free trips and lower-car/shared trips in the campaign data.

17. Is this an anti-car campaign?

    • No. The campaign is about encouraging people to explore alternatives and reduce unnecessary dependence on personal vehicles where practical. The choice to participate—and how you participate—is entirely yours.

18. What if I can only manage one trip?

    • That's enough to take the challenge. The campaign is not about being perfect. One trip without your personal vehicle is one trip worth counting.

19. What happens after I challenge someone?

    • Ask your friend, colleague or family member to participate. They can then challenge someone else.

    • You take the initiative → You share → You challenge → The chain continues

    • That's how the movement can continue.

20. Will I receive a participation certificate or a prize?

    • No. There are no participation certificates or prizes for this campaign.I Am Car Free Today is a voluntary campaign driven by goodwill and personal interest. The purpose is to encourage a positive habit, experience alternative ways of getting around, and inspire others to make more sustainable mobility choices. Join because you can, you want to, and you believe it matters.