The mayors of Paris and Brussels have issued a joint call for all of Europe to follow their example of a car-free day as a measure against pollution and congestion.
The two cities will hold their own annual events next Sunday, with cultural events and celebrations, coinciding with Europe’s Heritage Days celebrations. Among public events in Brussels: a bike ride through the car-free area by the Belgian royal family.
In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that a number of areas will become car-free permanently on the first Sunday of each month, starting in October. They include Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis, Louvre, Opera, Chatelet and the Marais. Hidalgo also hailed a 6% drop in road traffic over last year.
