Car-Free Cities

The following sample essay on “Car-Free Cities”: tells how the use of cars affects air pollution and humanity in general.

Cars are responsible for 12 percent of greenhouse gases that are released into the air. In places located in the United States where cars rely on, they are responsible for up to 50 percent of those gases. For this reason, it is clear that air pollution from cars has a very negative impact on the environment; in turn, many locations have stopped car usage.

With this in mind, limiting car usage has many advantages. These advantages include a decrease in pollution, lowered stress among citizens, as well as less money spent on cars.

To begin with, one of the many advantages is a decrease in pollution as car emissions make up a relatively large bulk of greenhouse gases. As stated, “Congestion was down 60 percent in the capital of France, after five days of intensifying smog…” The source goes on to state that the smog rivaled Beijing, China, one of the most polluted cities in the world.

The drastic effect cars have on the atmosphere has created a problem so serious that they had to attempt to rid of excessive car usage. For this reason, they had to issue a ban in an attempt to decrease the smog. Many people do not tend to notice just how awful cars are for pollution, however, just after five days the smog was able to clear, showing just how big of impact cars have on the atmosphere.

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Though, in some locations car usage and ownership have been naturally decreasing. Many sociologists even believe that this trend will continue and that car usage will continue to decrease, eventually having a positive impact on the environment and atmosphere because cars are the second source of gas emissions, right behind power plants. The pollution from cars is so horrible that they rival that of power plants, a decrease in car usage could be very beneficial for the environment, even likely leading to a decrease in pollution.

In addition, the limited use of cars has caused lower levels of stress in civilians. Oftentimes, people are tenser when there are a lot of cars around due to loud noises, road rage, and many more reasons. “As a result, 70 percent of Vauban’s families do not own cars, and 57 percent sold a car to move here. ‘When I had a car I was always tense. I’m much happier this way,’… the swish of bicycles and the chatter of wandering children drown out the occasional distant motor” . People are often more nervous around cars, mainly because of the hoking and motors and possibilities of accidents. Because of this, walking or riding bikes can be much more relaxing, which is why devoiding car use leads to lower stress levels in individuals. Moreover, after Paris decided to ban driving, the smog cleared enough for them to live the ban just a few days later (Selsky). Pollution plays a big role in people’s stress, adding to it. The fog, smoke, and fumes emitted from cars cause people to be more strung out, so when car usage is limited and the air is more clear, in general people feel calmer. Limiting car usage has been able to reduce the stress in many drivers, showing just how deep of effect cars can have on people.

Furthermore, as fewer cars are being used and as cars started being deemed as less necessary, less money is being spent on cars. The car industry could be greatly affected due to fewer cars being bought, even leading to them rebranding themselves as mobility companies rather than just car companies in an attempt to keep making money . These companies have been losing profit and revenue mainly because people in younger generations do not feel the need to buy a car. So little money is being spent on cars at this point, leading to them reinventing themselves to appeal to this new trend. People between the ages of 16 and 39 have not been buying as many cars, or getting a license, while the older generations have been keeping theirs (Source 4). While these people just do not feel the need to buy a car, they are also saving a lot of money, saving on both the car itself and gas and other expenses. While very beneficial to individual car owners, it still hurts the car industry.

In conclusion, the limited use of cars has improved the problem of pollution, lowered the stress on citizens, and led to less money being spent on cars. Whenever cars are not being used as much, there is a visible decrease in the amount of pollution in the air, citizens are even less tense due to the more peaceful surroundings. There is also less money being spent, which is extremely beneficial to those who are not driving, while negative to car manufacturers. Limiting car use in certain areas has had such a positive impact on the environment and its inhabitants, implying it should be done more often in different areas, especially in locations with high concentrated levels of pollution.