World Car Free Day with Supertram: What makes people choose the tram?

For World Car Free Day (22nd September 2026), UKTram spoke to operator member South Yorkshire Supertram about the role light rail can play in giving people a practical alternative to travelling by car - and what can make that choice easier. For Supertram, reliability is essential. With an average service reliability of 99%, the network offers a dependable way to travel across South Yorkshire, especially to busy city centre destinations where driving and parking are often difficult.

Encouraging people to stop using their cars also means making it as easy as possible to switch to public transport.

One example is investing in Park & Ride. This year, a new facility opened at Magna with 100 free spaces. Supertram is also looking at ways to expand Park & Ride at other locations on the network, following recent public feedback.

Major events also give people a chance to see the benefits of travelling by tram. During Tramlines in July, Supertram carried thousands of festival-goers, helping people travel to and from the event without driving. The operator works with event partners to provide dedicated tram timetables and travel information, with the network also serving destinations including Sheffield Arena and the city’s major football grounds.

This summer, Supertram also offered free travel for 5–15-year-olds during August, encouraging young people and families to use public transport during the school holidays. Looking ahead, Supertram believes making public transport easy, convenient and reliable will remain key to encouraging more people to make the switch from their cars.

Better connections between bus and tram, simpler ticketing and clear information can all help. Supertram’s role within the newly launched South Yorkshire People’s Network will also support moves towards a more integrated public transport network across the region.

The experience in South Yorkshire shows that encouraging people to use public transport does not mean they have to give up their cars completely. It is about making public transport a real option for trips where it makes sense, like going into the city centre, attending a big event or just getting around during the day.

On World Car Free Day, it’s a useful reminder of the role light rail can play in giving people a reliable alternative and making it easier to choose it.

UKTram would like to thank South Yorkshire Supertram for sharing its experience for World Car Free Day.