The UK and Europe’s leading micromobility operator, Voi, national inclusive cycling charity, Wheels for All and Clean Cities Campaign, which campaigns for the zero-emission mobility, are coming together to celebrate Clean Air Day with a ride-along event, taking place on Thursday 16 June at Liverpool’s iconic Palm House in Sefton Park.
Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk communities face today, as it kills up to 36,000 people in the UK every year, according to the World Health Organisation and the UK government. Clean Air Day which is celebrated on 16 June, brings together schools, healthcare, workplaces and communities across the UK, with activities to inspire people to take simple steps to protect their health from air pollution.
The ride-along event celebrates Clean Air Day and raises awareness of the impact that air pollution is having on people in towns and cities across the country; a problem that can be tackled by replacing short car rides with active and greener modes of transport.
The Clean Air Day ride-along aims to bring people together to champion the role that walking, cycling and shared e-scooters play in reducing congestion and pollution in our cities. Liverpudlians are invited to join the celebration whether walking, cycling or using a Voi rental e-scooter.
Jack Samler, General Manager for Voi in UK and Ireland, said:
“Pollution and congestion are two of the biggest problems in our cities. We need to fundamentally change the way we travel if we want to decarbonise them.
“This ride-along, in collaboration with Wheels for All and Clean Cities Campaign, aims to highlight how we can all contribute to improving air quality by cycling, scooting or walking, all replacing unnecessary short car journeys. If more people adopt sustainable transport modes, Liverpool will be an even better place to live in.”
Wheels for All is a charity that promotes inclusive cycling through a range of successful community engagement programmes, such as ‘Wheels for All’ and ‘Pedal Away’, will be inviting its community to join the celebration to reinforce how important it is to make cycling inclusive and accessible to all.
Tom Webster, Wheels for All, said:
“We are looking forward to joining in the Clean Air Day 2022 Ride Along in Liverpool to demonstrate how people from every part of our community can enjoy cycling.
“Participants from our Bike Buddy programme, which supports disabled people to cycle independently on adapted cycles such as trikes and handcycles, will join with bike and scooter riders to feel the joy of movement and being part of a community as they enjoy the fresh air and scenery around Sefton Park.”
The event also counts on the support of Clean Cities Campaign, a European coalition of NGOs and grassroots groups. It campaigns for the transition to zero-emission mobility by 2030, pushing cities to become champions of active, shared electric mobility for a more liveable and sustainable urban future.
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities Campaign, said:
“Most people want more greenery and opportunities to walk, cycle, scoot and wheel in their cities. Yet car use in Liverpool has increased by almost a third in the last decade, leading to congested streets and toxic air. Whilst some work has been done, we need an ambitious Clean Air Plan for Liverpool that protects communities and enables more convenient, cheaper and healthier ways to get around.”
Having launched in the city of Liverpool in October 2020, Voi has helped replace more than a million short car journeys to date, and avoided an estimated 500 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Voi is offering a £3 discount to new UK riders between 16-23 June as part of the Clean Air Day celebrations, and to encourage more people to avoid using their cars in Liverpool’s city centre. To redeem the special discount, new Voi riders simply need to download the Voi app, find a scooter and then add the code ‘CleanAir’.
Sustainability, accessibility and affordability are three of the main reasons why Liverpudlians are opting for Voi e-scooters and, in its second year of operation, Voi will continue to work closely with its city partners and other relevant stakeholders to drive micromobility adoption in the city and support Liverpool as a thriving, fair and sustainable city.
