On Sunday, the Champs-Élysées in Paris was taken over by pedestrians, bicycles and other human-powered transport for the first monthly event designed to give the city's residents greater freedom to explore its grand open spaces.
Thousands of Parisians and tourists poured onto the two kilometre stretch leading to the Arc de Triomphe. In February the city council voted that on the first Sunday of every month the length of the eight-lane Champs-Élysées would become a pedestrian space.
Originally scheduled for May 1, the event was delayed until May 8 so as not to coincide with protest International Workers Day protests. The avenue will next be given over to human-powered traffic on June 5.
The move followed last year's successful car-free day, which took place on September 27. Unlike the monthly Sunday events, the Paris Sans Voiture event covers a slightly wider area of the city centre and is set to expand to cover even more ground at the next outing, set for September 25, 2016.
Paris is Europe's most densely-populated city and has undertaken a number of measures to improve its air quality. In 2003 the city introduced the Paris Respire (Paris Breathes) programme, under which sections of the city are closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, either all through the year or during the summer.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
