Projects of World Carfree Network
World Carfree Network has both centralised and decentralised
projects (listed below). Centralised projects are coordinated by the network's International Coordination Centre (ICC), which is based in Prague and run by World Carfree Network Europe. Decentralised projects are coordinated elsewhere. There is currently no process for the network "approving" new projects, meaning that any international project on the carfree theme carried out by one or more network members (organisations and/or individuals) can be considered a network project (see Statutes). All projects must have a
project coordinator, to ensure proper communication with the rest of the network and to ensure that goals, timelines and other
responsibilities are met.
World Carfree Network Europe coordinates
the following projects:
- Autoholics
Anonymous, inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous and similar
self-help groups, is using a light-hearted approach to call attention to the UK's serious problem of car dependence. The concept focuses chiefly on getting the Autoholics Anonymous name and concept into the public consciousness (via a media-friendly AA membership campaign and an Autoholics.org website), in order to lower the image of the car relative to the alternative modes. Further, an actual 12-step programme and associated materials provide all the tools people need to wean themselves off car dependence - except of course for the changes in urban form and infrastructure that autoholics would be encouraged to push for. This project was launched in September 2006 in the UK.
project coordinator: Randall Ghent -
Skype: randallghent (Mon.-Thurs.)
- Carbusters
Magazine is produced quarterly by an international editorial
team in Prague, Czech Republic. It is a 32-page print magazine
critiquing our society's car culture and exploring positive
alternatives. Printed in 1,500 copies, Carbusters
aims to serve as both an information source and a call to action,
providing a full range of content from campaign skills to the latest research developments, feature articles, world news as well as some necessary comic relief. The 31st issue was published in July 2007.
project coordinator: Justin Hyatt -
- Carbusters Press has published two
educational cartoon books (CARtoons by Andy Singer
and Roadkill Bill by Ken Avidor) as well as the
Carbusters Graphics Book, a compilation of graphics available for free nonprofit reuse by campaign groups. The Graphics Book has been expanded and released in an on-line version, now located among
our 'Freesources'. All current activities are those listed below under Visegrad Publications Project.
project coordinator: Michal Krivohlávek -
- Our Carfree Green Pages features
profiles of over 550 groups working on alternative transport and
related issues. The directory allows groups to register and update
their own listings. If your group is listed in the directory, please help us advertise by placing a Carfree Green Pages banner on your website.
project coordinator: staff -
- The Carfree_Network discussion list is
dedicated to discussing and organising current and future projects of World Carfree Network and the global carfree movement.
list facilitator: Justin Hyatt
- Via the European Voluntary Service
programme, World Carfree Network hosts 2-4 volunteers each year, each for a 12-month period. This internship possibility is open to European citizens between the ages of 18 and 25. Preference goes to those active in the network, or working with its Member Organisations. Openings are announced on the Worldcarfree.net home page. Or you can write to the project coordinator at any time to find out when the next opportunity will be.
project coordinator: Kamila Blazkova -
- Our Resource Centre provides books,
videos and dvds, t-shirts, stickers and more via mail order and
Internet order. The goal is to facilitate the exchange of information
and resources in the carfree movement. We also have "Freesources" -
articles, essays, books, statistics and other useful texts to be viewed
on-line or downloaded.
project coordinator: Bas Ruyters -
Skype: wcn-icc
- The Towards Carfree Cities conference
series aims to bring together people who are promoting practical
alternatives to car dependence. The focus is on strategy, collaboration and exchange, assisting the practical work of conference participants - whether it be organising carfree days, promoting urban cycling, or building the carfree cities of the future. Past conferences have been held in Lyon, Timisoara, Prague, Berlin, Budapest and Bogota. The 2007 conference will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, and in 2008 it will be hosted by Portland, Oregon, USA.
project coordinator: Randall Ghent -
Skype: randallghent (Mon.-Thurs.)
- Visegrad
Publications Project: Thanks to a grant from the
Visegrad Fund, we are translating several publications into Czech,
Polish, Slovak and Hungarian. The book 'CARtoons' by Andy Singer was released in those languages in mid-2006. 'The Carbusters Reader', featuring the best of Carbusters magazine (issues
1-30), will follow in mid-2007.
project coordinator: Michal Krivohlávek -
- The World Carfree Day programme provides
promotion and resources on carfree days, centred around an annual
September 22 event. We encourage local organisers to hold carfree days on additional or alternative dates, according to cultural factors and geographical conditions.
project coordinator: Christi Brooks -
- World Carfree News
is a monthly e-bulletin sent out to some 2,000 people, in five separate
language versions (Czech, English, French, German and Spanish). Every
bulletin is packed full of the latest news and announcements from the
carfree movement.
project coordinator: Justin Hyatt -
- The Mobility Justice Project was born at our 2005 Annual General Meeting. Its aims are to claim equal rights to public streets and public funds for those who use transport modes other than cars, to focus public attention on the most grievous costs of car-dependent transport systems, to assist cyclists, pedestrians, transit users and grassroots groups with international campaigns, and to expose undemocratic and deceitful policies used to perpetuate car dependence. Possible future campaigns include letter-writing campaigns, media outreach, information campaigns, lobbying, and systematic monitoring and publishing of mobility rights reports.
Campaigns so far have included:
- The Save Dhaka's Rickshaws campaign was initiated in 2005 at the request of our member organisation WBB Trust. It was an international letter writing and pressure campaign that was successful in getting the World Bank to stop supporting bans of cycle rickshaws in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
project coordinator: none - campaign completed
- The Free NYC Cyclists campaign came out of our 2005 Annual General Meeting, after network members shared information and experiences with police repression of the monthly Critical Mass bicycle rides in New York City. Since November 2005, the network has had a presence of legal observers on the monthly ride. There has also been letter writing and media work associated with the project.
project coordinator: Sara Stout -
- International Coordination Centre,
or ICC - Through this project, WCN Europe coordinates administration of the global network. This includes providing international assistance, resources and services to NGOs and
individuals globally (both inside and outside of Europe) and
facilitating networking between WCN Europe members and carfree
campaigners worldwide.
Contact: -
Decentralised projects under development:
- Carfree Area Pilot Project: Carfree Area Pilot Project:
The network is developing a pilot project in which cities around the world would compete to be the test site for a new carfree and motor-vehicle-free neighbourhood (of a size of minimum 10-12 hectares). The chosen area would be planned and developed in such a way that the area becomes human-scaled, lively, architecturally rich, and with a high concentration of destinations and events. The winning city or cities would receive consulting and other support from World Carfree Network and its partner organisations, although the process of the planning and developing and the appearance of the project would be shaped by local people.
Search for Municipalities interested in realising a model settlement within the Carfree Area Pilot Project: (deadline to be announced)
Interested European municipalities are asked to send proposals for appropriate sites, to express interest in co-operating to realise carfree model settlements in their area. Most important is the availability of an area of sufficient size to allow the advantages of carfree living (space for people, safety, lack of noise pollution, etc.) to be experienced and to accommodate a population and urban density high enough to support attractive local public transport. Three of the responding municipalities will be selected by a jury to participate in the international “Carfree Area Pilot Project”. The proposal for the project will then be submitted to the European Commission under the programme “Intelligent energy – Europe”. The project is supported by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). Follow the link above to read more.
project coordinator: Markus Heller and Franz Skala -
- The Ecotopia Biketour is a youth-run
long-distance bike tour that has taken place each summer since 1990, with 30-60 participants at a time, over a period of 4-6 weeks. The goal is to bring together youth from across Europe and create a mobile sustainable community in which decisions are made together on a consensus basis, and tasks are equally shared. The annual bike tour, which was coordinated by World Carfree Network from 2004 until 2006, stops over at the Ecotopia gathering, held in a different country each year. Currently it is no longer coordinated by the World Carfree Network, yet it is advised by the network and has become a decentralised project. The 2007 ride stretches from northern Spain to Portugal.
project coordinator: João Lopes -
- The Carfree Ecovillage Project (projet
Cyclâne, in French) seeks to set up carfree ecovillages in
France and possibly beyond. Project members are looking for sites of
five hectares or more – with at least one building, a nearby
train station (10 km max.) and public transport access and far from
asphalt – that could be bought or rented for long-term use.
The project intends to mix activities such as farming, production,
culture and social events to create an economy of proximity and to
develop research and innovation. Infrastructure for bicycles, horses
and donkeys and public transportation would be developed in order to
make carfree life nice and easy.
There are two listservs on the topic: [villagessansvoiture] (in French)
and [carfreeecovillages] (in English).
project coordinator: François Schneider -
tel: +(33) 4-72-00-09-82 or +(33) 6-74-39-21-06.
Past projects:
- In May 2006, World Carfree Network organised a youth exchange in Tabor, Czech Republic, focused on leadership development and skills exchange among young people involved in the carfree movement.
- In September 2006, World Carfree Network organised a youth exchange in Bogota, Colombia, focused on learning from Bogota's projects and programmes that have improved public transport, improved cycling infrastructure, built parks and public space, and reduced social exclusion.
- In 2004, World Carfree Network coordinated the application
process for the distribution of US$50,000 from a private donor. Out of nearly 50 submissions, 10 alternative transport advocacy groups worldwide each received $5,000. Similar opportunities will be sought in the future, but may be limited to network Member Organisations.
Independent international projects within the network include:
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