The World Car Free Day will be observed in the city today (Sunday) aiming at reducing dependency on small passenger-carrying personal vehicles for easing traffic confession.
This year the day has been designed to encourage cycling and walking, calling upon all concerned to keep special bicycle lane in all future planning of road infrastructures and constructing standard footpaths.
The theme is 'safe walking and cycling'.
According to a study, private cars manage only 10 per cent of the city's more than 30 million trips. Eighty per cent trips in the city are made within a range of 5 kilometres and half of those within a range of 2 kilometres.
This was disclosed at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Saturday on the eve of the World Car Free Day.
While speaking at the press conference, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Executive Director Khandaker Rakibur Rahman said though the rate of car use in the country is much lower than the countries in Southeast Asia, it is one of the major causes for traffic jam in the city.
Car free day observance doesn't mean to stop car use rather to focus on high dependency on the use of private cars which is for lack of public and mass transports, he added.
"We want the issues relating to safe walking and cycling must come up for discussion at all stages including design stage of all road infrastructures."
In reply to a query, Mr Rahman said DTCA urges all concerned to focus on proper land use planning and encourage short distance trips to reduce dependency on personal cars.
He also urged private car owners to refrain from using personal cars for a day.
Marking the day, DTCA will hold programme on the southern side of Manik Mia Avenue from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will attend the programme as the chief guest while mayors of Dhaka North and South City Corporations Mohammad Sayeed Khokon and Mohammad Atiqul Islam as the special guests.
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