Benefits of Going Car-Free

1 Let's Go Through the Transcript!

00:00 - 02:54
https://youtu.be/g9-9CxCxrVE

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In 2017, Oslo's city leaders committed to an ambitious goal, make the city as car-free as
possible. Today, there are many streets where cars aren't allowed, particularly in the city center
and areas around schools and parks. There are many other streets where traffic is so low it
seems like they aren't allowed.
Eliminating private cars from large parts of a city of nearly 700,000 people may sound crazy,
but the results have been positive. Businesses have not seen a decline in customers, and in
fact, the car-free districts are some of the most popular with shoppers. The central business
district has seen a 10% increase in pedestrians and a 10% increase in shopping. Perhaps more
importantly, Oslo recorded no pedestrian and cyclist deaths in 2019. It was the only major city
on the planet to do so.
Oslo isn't the only city aiming to go completely car-free. Cities in Europe in particular, like
Hamburg, Madrid, and Helsinki, have also adopted removing the car as a goal. In this video,
we'll dive into the reasons cities want to go car-free and the policies they're implementing to
make it happen.
While Oslo reaped pedestrian safety benefits from going car-free, it wasn't the only reason for
the dramatic transportation policy. Cities in Europe are taking emissions seriously, both for air
quality reasons and climate change reasons. The European Union's 27 member states have
signed on to the goal to be carbon neutral by 2050, and with nearly 85% of Europeans living in
cities by that deadline, policies aimed at cities are necessary. The EU recently launched a
program to make 100 cities carbon neutral by 2030.
One of the biggest ways cities can become carbon neutral is by reducing transport emissions.
In Europe, 22% of carbon emissions come from cars and trucks. Those cities need to get people
out of cars and into carbon-free modes, like biking, walking, and transit.
Now I know some of you are saying that everyone should just switch to electric vehicles
because they can be zero emissions depending on where the power comes from. And while
that is true, there's one more big reason why European cities in particular would want to banish
the car. Cars take up a lot of space.
Unlike many US cities that grew considerably in the age of the automobile, many European
cities grew large in the centuries before the car. They have large, intact, pedestrian-friendly
districts. Some cities did more demolition than others to jam cars into their central districts,
and others rebuilt in more car-friendly ways after various world wars. But in general, there are
 still many cities in Europe where a high percentage of the population can move about just fine
without cars. And just fine may be underselling it, because once you start getting rid of cars, it
makes all other forms of transportation better. It's more pleasant to walk, safer to bike, and
faster to ride.

2 Have a look at these awesome collocations!

1 to commit to a goal

2 to make car-free

3 where cars aren't allowed

4 in the city center

5 traffic is low

6 to eliminate private cars from parts

7 to see a decline in customers

8 the most popular districts

9 to see a 10% increase in pedestrians

10 to aim to go car-free

11 to adopt removing the car

12 to implement to make it happen

13 to reap pedestrian safety benefits

14 to take emissions seriously

15 to be carbon neutral

16 to make cities carbon neutral

17 to become carbon neutral

18 to reduce emissions

19 carbon emissions come from cars

20 to get people into carbon-free modes

 21 cities that grew considerably in the age

22 large pedestrian-friendly districts

3 Can You Spot the Target Words in These Sentences?

1 It's important to commit to a goal of reducing air pollution in cities without cars.

2 Some cities aim to make car-free zones to promote walking and cycling.

3 The benefit of car-free areas is that traffic is low, making it safer for pedestrians.

4 Businesses may see a decline in customers if access to their shops is limited by car-free
policies.
5 In car-free cities, the most popular districts are usually designed for pedestrians and
cyclists.
6 City planners aim to go car-free to create healthier environments for residents.

7 Leaders should take emissions seriously to ensure the success of car-free initiatives.

8 Making cities carbon neutral involves implementing sustainable transportation options.

9 The ultimate goal is for cities to become carbon neutral by reducing emissions from
vehicles.
10 To achieve a car-free future, it's essential to reduce emissions from cars through
sustainable solutions.

4 Can You Rephrase These Sentences?

to make car-free, to see a decline in customers, to reduce emissions, to become carbon
neutral, to commit to a goal, traffic is low, to aim to go car-free, the most popular districts, to
take emissions seriously, to make cities carbon neutral
1 The company decided to aim for becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

2 In an attempt to lower emissions, the city plans to eliminate cars in the downtown area.

3 Because of the pandemic, there is minimal traffic in the city center.

4 The restaurant owner began to notice a drop in customers after enforcing a car-free
policy.
5 The most popular neighborhoods in the city also have the highest emissions.

6 The city council revealed their goal to achieve carbon neutrality in cities within the next
decade.
7 It's about time for businesses to prioritize emissions and adopt sustainable practices.

8 The mayor's proposal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 received mixed responses.

9 The company pledged to achieve carbon neutrality within the next five years.

10 To decrease emissions, individuals must make mindful choices in their daily routines.
Correct Answers
4 Correct Answers:
1 The company decided to commit to a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
2 In an effort to reduce emissions, the city aims to go car-free in the downtown area.
3 Due to the pandemic, traffic is low in the city center.
4 The restaurant owner started to see a decline in customers after implementing a car-
free policy.
5 The most popular districts in the city are also the ones with the highest emissions.
6 The city council announced their aim to make cities carbon neutral within the next
decade.
7 It's time for businesses to take emissions seriously and implement sustainable
practices.
8 The mayor's plan to make the city carbon neutral by 2050 was met with mixed
reactions.
9 The company made a commitment to become carbon neutral within the next five
years.
10 In order to reduce emissions, individuals need to make conscious choices in their
daily lives.