The Champs-Elysees, car-free on May 8.
Paris’
Champs-Elysees will be car-free on the first Sunday of every month as part of a
move to cut carbon emissions.
The
city council voted on the measure in February. The first pedestrian takeover
of the eight-lane, 1.2-mile boulevard leading to the Arc de Triomphe took place
on May 8.
It
was originally slated to begin May 1 but was delayed to May 8 so it would not coincide
with International Workers Day protests.
Until
now the thoroughfare, which is usually bumper-to-bumper traffic, has only been
closed to vehicles on special occasions such as New Year’s Day.
The
move follows last year’s car-free day on Sept. 27.
The date
for the next closure of the Champs-Elysee is June 5.