Ethiopia observes second edition of ‘Car Free Day’
Citizens walked or rode bicycles to get around, rather than using cars
By DTE Staff
Published: Monday 14 January 2019
A Car Free Day is when members of the public are encouraged to give up their cars and walk or ride bicycles as a means of getting around. It is observed to promote pursuance of healthy lifestyles for people who otherwise live sedentary lives.
September 22 is observed as ‘International Car Free Day’, with events organised in cities and countries around the world. In Africa, Rwandan capital, Kigali, is known to observe the day.
Ethiopians turned out in cities across the country including capital Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Adama, Jimma, Mekelle and Jigiga, to walk the streets and participate in other forms of exercise.
Ethiopia’s minister for health, Amir Abiy, tweeted on the occasion: “Our goal is clear: Health Citizens and Pollution Free Ethiopia.”
Ethiopia's Car Free Day is in line with its efforts to not only turn its economy around but also improve all aspects of the lives of its inhabitants. In 2000, it was the second-most populous country in Africa and was also the third-poorest country in the world. Its annual GDP per capita was only about $650. More than 50% of the population lived below the global poverty line, the highest poverty rate in the world.
Since then, Ethiopia has become the third-fastest growing country in the world, as measured by GDP per capita. Its poverty rate fell to 31 per cent by 2011.
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