Pedestrians replace vehicles as Paris goes car-free
Pedestrians took advantage of the closure to vehicles of a stretch of the Champs Elysees to view the Arc de Triomphe monument under its temporary guise as an art installation covered in a silvery wrapping, conceived by the late artist Christo.
Other thoroughfares were given over to walkers and cyclists, with the exception of buses, taxis and resident motorists making essential journeys.
The car-free day is part of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's push to curb vehicle use and air pollution.
The Socialist, who is a candidate for next year's presidential election, has also reduced the speed limit on most of the city's streets to 30 kilometres per hour (19 miles per hour) from 50 kph and pedestrianized some busy roads along the River Seine.
