Go car-free during F1 season

Letter from Micheal Chiam, Today Online 26 Sep 08;

MONDAY was Car-Free Day in Seoul, during which vehicles were restricted to certain roads only, and residents of the city enjoyed photo exhibitions and other recreational activities.

This weekend, Singapore, in its push to be a global city, will be hosting the inaugural Formula 1 night street race.

The event is an opportunity for the F1 organisers to promote Car-Free Day here.

They can restrict cars on roads like Nicoll Highway to prevent jams before and during the race days. Sponsored public transport can ferry commuters on these car-free roads.

Perhaps the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources could endorse this campaign, calling on Singaporeans to abandon their cars for the duration of the F1 as a gesture of concern for the environment.

This will add to the intangible benefits of showing off our country to the millions of television viewers around the world.