Car-Free Day: How the Initiative Works in Uzbekistan and Around the World

Since May 1, 2026, the initiative has been held on the 10th and 25th of every month as part of the nationwide Clean Air project.

The initiative aims to reduce harmful emissions, improve air quality and promote more sustainable modes of transportation. Around the world, similar initiatives take different forms – from regular restrictions on traffic along individual streets to closing entire urban areas to private vehicles for a day.

What the initiative involves in Uzbekistan

The Car-Free Day initiative is being implemented as part of the nationwide Clean Air project, approved by Presidential Decree No. UP-46 dated March 25, 2026.

On these days, employees of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change and its regional offices leave their official and personal cars at home, opting instead for public transport, bicycles and other sustainable forms of mobility.

Holding these days on a regular basis is intended to help reduce transport-related emissions and raise awareness of the need for more sustainable urban mobility.

According to the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, since the initiative began, employees of the Committee and its regional offices have reduced their use of more than 1,730 official and personal vehicles.

The Committee estimates that this has helped reduce harmful emissions by approximately 17,370 kilograms.

Car-Free Day Around the World

In many countries, initiatives aimed at reducing car use are held in conjunction with World Car-Free Day on September 22. However, in some cities, restrictions on car traffic are introduced much more frequently and have become part of long-term urban transport policies.

Paris: Streets for People

The French capital has the Paris Respire (“Paris Breathes”) program. As part of the initiative, selected streets and neighbourhoods are regularly closed to motor traffic on weekends and public holidays.

The format varies by area. In some neighbourhoods, restrictions are in place every Sunday, while the Champs-Élysées becomes a pedestrian-only space once a month.

Rather than relying on a single annual Car-Free Day, Paris has developed a system of regular traffic restrictions that helps reclaim urban space from cars.

Brussels: A Day Without Cars

Brussels hosts Car-Free Sunday every year. On this day, the Brussels-Capital Region is closed to car traffic, turning its streets into spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and other forms of non-motorized transport.

Emergency services and certain categories of authorized vehicles are exempt from the restrictions.

In 2026, Car-Free Sunday is scheduled for September 20.

Bogotá: More Than 140 Kilometres of Streets for People

One of the best-known examples is Bogotá, Colombia. The city’s Ciclovía program has been running for nearly five decades.

Every Sunday and public holiday, around 141 kilometres of city streets are temporarily freed from car traffic, creating space for cyclists, pedestrians, runners and other forms of active recreation.

Unlike one-off campaigns, Ciclovía takes place on a regular basis and has become an integral part of Bogotá’s urban culture.

Different Formats, One Goal

The experience of cities around the world shows that Car-Free Day initiatives can take many forms. In Uzbekistan, it is a regular nationwide initiative held twice a month. In Paris, restrictions apply to selected streets and areas throughout the year. In Brussels, one car-free day covers virtually the entire capital region, while in Bogotá, streets are regularly freed from cars every Sunday and public holiday.

Despite these differences, the goal remains broadly the same: to reduce the environmental impact of transport, improve the quality of urban spaces and demonstrate that residents have alternatives to relying on private cars every day.