In Shanghai, a two-kilometer-long car-free area was set up along North Sichuan Road in downtown Hongkou District.

Monday saw China holding its second car-free day for the year bearing the theme of "Human Streets".

(CCTV.com 09-23-2008)--Monday saw China holding its second car-free day for the year bearing the theme of "Human Streets". The idea is to try to persuade the public that bigger or wider roads are no answer to easing congestion. A better alternative involves significantly reducing the actual number of cars.

In Shanghai, a two-kilometer-long car-free area was set up along North Sichuan Road in downtown Hongkou District. Only buses, taxis and vehicles with special passes were allowed to drive in the area between 9am and 3pm. Commuters who use public transport welcomed the event.

Mr. Gu, Shanghai resident said "In Guangzhou, the city encouraged resident to travel by public transportation, bicycles, or on foot. The government kept almost all of its cars off the roads, except for emergencies. In Jinan and Taiyuan, the two cities have broadened their car-free areas and dispatched more buses. And in Hangzhou, the number of taxi reservations grew by twenty percent, as people chose to take cabs rather than drive. "

Nationwide, one hundred eleven cities held events to mark car-free day. It is estimated that car-free day could save 3.3 million liters of gas and cut 3,000 tons of emissions in China.

Car-free day was first launched in France in 1998. So far, nearly 1500 cities around the world have set up their own day without cars.