This idea has also been warmly supported by urban residents and has become a national movement. Mrs Dominique Vane, the leader of the French Green Party and then the territorial improvement and environmental growth of France, launched the activity of "I won't drive in the city today", which was echoed by the capital Paris and 34 other provinces and cities.
On September 22nd of that year, citizens of 35 cities in France voluntarily gave up their private cars, and designated this day as "City Car Free Day". On September 22nd, cars were restricted in some towns, and only public transport, pollution-free vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians were allowed to enter the urban area. This movement gave the city a break and soon swept across Europe.
One year later, on September 22nd, 1999, 66 French cities and 92 Italian cities participated in the first "Car Free Day". In February 2000, the car-free day initiative initiated by France was incorporated into the EU's environmental protection policy framework. In just a few months, EU 14 member countries and other 12 European countries decided to join the European Car Free Day campaign. Up to now, according to incomplete statistics, nearly 1500 towns in 37 countries have participated in it. Now more and more cities in Asia and South America are promoting this activity.
China, which has just entered the "automobile society", soon launched a car-free day. In 200 1 year, Chengdu became the first city in China to hold a car-free day. In 2002, Taipei also chose September 22nd as Car Free Day. Many cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan have also begun to publicize "Car Free Day".