Car Free Day back again despite poor response

DESPITE a poor response last year to calls for people

to leave their cars at home for a day, the Singapore Environment Council is going ahead with the idea again this year.

And it is prepared to persist in its efforts to get motorists, who have paid what are probably the highest prices in the world for their cars, to take public transport instead.

It will take time before people change their habits and use their cars less often, conceded the council's senior manager, Mr Howard Shaw, at a media briefing yesterday about this year's Car Free Day, to be held on two days next month as part of Earth Day celebrations taking place around the globe.

'Last year, participation was very low,' he said.

'What we hope to achieve this year is to raise awareness further and have the level of participation follow and increase.'

Singapore's first Car Free Day, on April 19 last year, saw a fall of just 1.4 per cent in the number of vehicles entering the Central Business District, and 2.1 per cent in expressway traffic, during morning peak hours from 7.30 am to 10 am.

The figures were estimated by the Land Transport Authority.

The Ministry of the Environment expressed reservations about the scheme when it was first announced last year.

Mr Lim Swee Say, who was Acting Environment Minister at the time, had said busy people should not feel pressured not to drive and warned that public transport may not be able to cope if most motorists left their cars at home for the day.

This left many people somewhat confused last year by what they saw as mixed signals being sent by the two environment bodies.

The Environment Ministry has not yet commented on this year's car-free effort.

Mr Shaw also pointed out that the council was not anti-car.

'We are not asking people to get rid of their cars, merely to think about whether there is an alternative way to travel before they make a trip,' he said.

The aim is to increase awareness about the environmental damage done by cars and to encourage drivers to think twice before starting their engines, he added.

To make participation easier this year, Car Free Day is being held on two days - Sunday, April 21 and Monday, April 22 - so that those who need to use their cars on weekdays can still go green for a day.

Instead of counting cars, the environment council will monitor participation this year through the number of car-free pledges that are made on its website at www.sec.org.sg

This year, Pulau Ubin will also help raise public awareness about environmental issues and promote conservation by joining in Earth Day celebrations.

Treks, talks and displays highlighting the island's heritage, kampung lifestyle and nature will take place between 9 am and 5 pm on April 20.