Rabat – The Moroccan NGO “Youth of the 21st Century” is preparing for the upcoming car-free day in Rabat, scheduled for Sunday, October 3.
To celebrate the 2021 World Car Free Day, the NGO “Youth of the 21st Century” is launching a campaign to encourage citizens of the capital to give up their cars for a day.
The NGO, founded by a group of young adults in December 2012 to discover and develop the potential of Moroccan youth, has named the campaign “Rabat, without my car.”
After running three similar successful events, this is the fourth time that the NGO has raised awareness to Rabatis of the pollution challenges caused by urban transportation.
The initiative does not only aim to improve air quality but also to decrease noise and enhance quality of life in the city.
Inhabitants of Morocco’s capital are encouraged to refrain from using their vehicles on October 3, between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and opt for public transportation, bicycles, or walking instead.
The NGO explained in a statement that “this project gives a prominent action to the improvement of air quality and green spaces, demonstrating Morocco’s commitment to lead climate action.”
The NGO, in collaboration with local authorities, will draw circuits where people can bike or walk freely without any car traffic. “Those who can’t participate, however, are invited to avoid these predefined circuits,” the statement added.
The event concerns all fuel-powered vehicles, with the exception of emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire vehicles, and authorities will reinforce security staff to ensure smooth operations.
Every year on September 22, Car Free Days are celebrated around the world, and the NGO’s initiative highlighted Rabat among the global cities that take part in this event, including Paris and Brussels.
According to the Washington Post, the event “promotes the improvement of mass transit, cycling and walking, and the development of communities where jobs are closer to home and where shopping is within walking distance.”
