September 22 is known as World Car-Free Day, when environmental watchdogs encourage motorists to give up their cars. The event promotes improvement of mass transit, cycling and walking, and the development of communities where jobs are closer to home and where shopping is within walking distance. The first Car-Free Days were held in Iceland, Great Britain and France in mid 90s.
At ecologists’ estimate, for a day of mass refraining from driving cars emissions release may decrease by 400 tons, Minsk State Executive Committee’s official website says. Nevertheless, judging by the photos above, the residents of the Belarusian capital seem to have turned a blind eye to the European initiative.
Belarus joined the action ‘World Car-Free Day’ in 2008.
