Italians use pedal power over petrol power on car-free day.

Italians celebrate first Car-Free Day

Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:21AM

Most Italian cities plan to organize at least once a month a Car-Free Sunday to limit city pollution levels and increase citizens' awareness.

Italians have celebrated the first Car-Free Day of the year across several cities as part of a campaign to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and promote green lifestyle.

Motorists in Turin, Milan and other cities gave up their cars on Sunday and seized the opportunity to paint the town green by walking, cycling and driving electric cars in a move that limited daily traffic congestion considerably, Xinhua reported. 

Public transport's accessibility level saw an incredible increase as local officials installed bike-sharing stands across the districts for those, who sought to witness at least one day devoid of CO2 emissions. 

The main objectives of holding Car-Free Day were to slash carbon dioxide emissions and smooth traffic in the wake of the recent warning about the excessive levels of CO2 in most Italian cities. 

Italy's most well-known environmental organization, Legambiente, said in a recent report that more than 15 Italians out of 10,000 die as the result of pollution every year. 

The European Union has criticized the Italian government for its negligence on adopting a strategic plan for the country's air pollution, which has reached dangerous levels. 

Statistics of a broad study conducted in Europe indicate that three Italian cities of Milan, Turin and Brescia were among the worst polluters in 2010. 

Meanwhile, most Italian cities are planning to hold at least once a month a Car-Free Sunday to limit city pollution levels and increase citizens' awareness.