World Car Free Day Date in the current year: September 22, 2024

The first Car Free Days were organized in Bath (UK), Reykjavík (Iceland), and La Rochelle (France) in 1995. That same year, the World Car Free Day consortium was established to support such campaigns worldwide. The first nationwide campaign was organized in the United Kingdom in 1997.

In 2000, the European Commission supported the initiative and held a Europe-wide Car Free Day on September 22. That same year, the campaign went global thanks to the World Carfree Network (originally Car Busters).

On this day, residents of participating cities have a chance to see what their city would look like with fewer cars. Of course, it is impossible to give up cars for good, but the development of public transportation systems might encourage people to drive less. Car Free Day is intended to remind of this.

Along with World Car Free Day, many countries and cities hold their own car free days on various dates throughout the year. Such events help develop communities where people work closer to home and shops are located within walking distance.