The Challenge

The challenge is to do what we can to support the creation of a very large number of events and projects around the world which successfully demonstrate the car free day principle in a variety of striking ways. And behind this target lies the much greater challenge of using these events and all that we learn in the process to support the move to more sustainable transport in and around cities. This process is going to take time, but this is one way to get it underway. (For further background on this, please click here.)

The Means

The means at our disposal are essentially four:

• A strong central concept which has already been shown good potential in quite a wide variety of circumstances, together with the base of deeper understanding and accumulating expertise that goes with it.
• The advantage of a specific date and target on which to focus our attention and against which to measure ourselves and our collective accomplishments.
• A series of exceptional international networks that have been built up over the years and that span many countries, institutions and points of view.
• The considerable the means of the Information Society, including but fortunately not limited to this Web site and the information and communications tools that go with it.

The ECFD Wrinkle (Top-down + Bottom-up + Both at once)

In order to obtain the maximum impact, ECFD 2001 is being opened to the widest possible range of car free day events, projects, demonstrations, and experiments. There will be ambitious and demanding city-wide projects such as we have seen so successfully demonstrated in places like Bogota, Chengdu and La Rochelle. But there are a great many things that any given group or even an individual and their family can do to make a public CFD statement. All are welcome to join in the celebration on the 19th of April.

After the Day

When night finally falls in Hawaii and last of the 19th of April is over, we have the means at our disposal which will permit us to evaluate the achievements and the shortcomings of our collective performance. And we have the not inconsiderable advantage of being both willing and able to be judged in an open and creative manner. For if the results are sufficiently positive, they can lay the base for a number of good things to follow. And if not, not! No excuses.