Celebrate World Car Free Day in Shoreditch
A busy street will play host to a free garden party and a number of car parking spaces across Shoreditch will be transformed into temporary parks as part of Hackney’s World Car Free Day celebrations on Friday 22 September.
World Car Free Day is an opportunity to rethink how to use the space given to cars. Hackney is a dense borough and, while a large amount of our public space is dedicated to motor vehicles, only 35% of Hackney residents own a car. The Council wants to find out if there is a better way to use some of that space to benefit everyone.
On Garden Walk, between Rivington Street and Great Eastern Street, the removal of cars will transform the road for the Garden Walk Garden Party. Passers-by can enjoy the lush setting, with beautiful trees and relaxing seating, while indulging in some great food and drink from local retailers. There will also be stalls selling cycling accessories, and music from a pedal powered sound system.
The activities aren’t limited to Garden Walk - visitors will be able to follow the Pop-Up Parklet path and discover surprising alternatives for kerbside space. Look out for seating nooks, play areas, and more!
Car Free Day is a part of the Council’s wider objectives to improve the quality of the public realm, tackle poor air quality, and be a model for sustainable urban living in London. We know that there is a demand for parklets and road closures across the borough. The pop-up parklets are an opportunity for us to see what works, and how they could be rolled out more widely. In the future we want to provide a way for local residents to suggest locations and uses for more permanent parklets everywhere.
The Council is also about to consult on proposals to close Garden Walk to traffic permanently – Car Free Day will allow people to see how removing vehicles can improve the environment for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
