A Plan for York

Here are the effects of car ownership..

Carbon Footprint

A report published by Zemo gives estimates for the carbon footprint of cars:

[A] typical medium sized family car will create around 24 tonnes of CO2 during its life cycle, while an electric vehicle (EV) will produce around 18 tonnes over its life. For a battery EV, 46% of its total carbon footprint is generated at the factory, before it has travelled a single mile.

More local amenities means less cars and vice versa

In Car ownership: Evidence review, the National Centre for Social Research Report:

DfT’s Transport User Personas study (2023a) linked lower levels of car ownership in urban areas with the availability of public transport, and with proximity to shops, amenities, and recreational facilities .

Conversely more cars means less amenities. (Historically: Shops move out as cars mode in.)

Car costs for the poorest households

Research by IPPR finds that car ownership eats up a quarter of poorest households’ incomes.

Local pollution and car ownership

In How can local authorities manage traffic-caused air pollution?, WSP say:

Sources of air pollution vary, from heavy industry to wood burning stoves, but, for many, traffic-related air pollution has the most significant impact on their lives. These impacts disproportionately fall on poorer, urban residents who live closer to busier roads despite producing the least pollution.

Car-free neighbourhoods tend to be friendlier

In Making streets people friendly: the rise of car free communities, the Rapid Transition Alliance say:

Long before the rise of low-traffic neighbourhoods, in 1981, US urban designer Donald Appleyard showed in his book Livable Streets how residents on streets (in 1969 San Francisco) with low traffic had more friends and acquaintances than others.

Car-free neighbourhoods have better layouts

Google’s AI overview says:

By removing private vehicles and prioritising people, car-free neighbourhoods unlock better, more cohesive layouts. This approach reclaims massive amounts of land otherwise wasted on parking lots and wide roads. It allows for enhanced green spaces, safer environments for children to play, and tighter-knit communities.

Summary

Car-free developments have many advantages for residents that can’t or don’t want to own a car. This plan will champion them. Fewer cars will also benefit York as a whole.