The car-free movement is a social initiative advocating for significantly reducing or eliminating the dominance of motorized vehicles in urban areas. It arose in response to 20th-century urban planning that prioritized cars, leading to sprawl, congestion, and cities less accessible for those without private vehicles. Proponents aim to reclaim road and parking space for public uses, fostering compact, walkable urban environments where most destinations are easily reached by walking, cycling, or public transport.

Strategies include urban design principles like New Urbanism, which emerged in the early 1980s to create walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, and establishing car-free zones or "living streets." Cities like Hong Kong demonstrate highly integrated public transport systems effectively reducing private car use, while London's World Squares for All scheme aims to remove traffic from major squares. Ultimately, the movement seeks to create cities where sustainable, alternative transportation is convenient and preferred over auto-dependency.