Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In

The air was noticeably clearer yesterday over the city of Paris, where people walking, biking, skating, and otherwise getting around without a motor took over streets generally packed with cars, including the Champs Elysées. About a third of Paris was free of motorized vehicles from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for buses and taxis. Car speeds were capped at 20 kilometers per hour in the rest of the city. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, at the urging of activists, initiated the massive car-free event as a lead-in to the city hosting COP21, the United Nations' upcoming conference on climate change. Paris is plagued by diesel exhaust, and the skies over the city were noticeably bluer yesterday, according to the Guardian. The exhaust cleared. The rumble of traffic was gone. People seemed happier and less stressed. One of the tens of thousands who took to the streets told the Guardian it was "like a headache lifting." Camille Carnoz of the bike activist group Vélorution said she hopes the car-free day leads to permanent changes:

Today is symbolic, it’s about giving people a dream, showing us what a city could look like without cars, a type of utopia. But we need to go further, with more and larger cycle routes, better parking spots for bicycles, slower speed limits. There’s a lot to be done.

Here are a few more views of the day without cars.

Faire du foot sur les champs élysées A photo posted by Chloé (@chloemyrtille) on Sep 27, 2015 at 7:53am PDT

#speedsail #skate #journeesansvoitures #ruederivoli #paris A photo posted by Guido Romero Pierini (@guidoromeropierini) on Sep 27, 2015 at 9:43am PDT

#journeesansvoitures A photo posted by Lucy Marchand (@luwith1y) on Sep 28, 2015 at 12:07am PDT

#Paris #avenuedeschampselysees 27 septembre #journeesansvoitures #paris_maville @Paris @paris_maville A photo posted by Sylvaine Caron Paris 19ème (@sylvainecaron) on Sep 27, 2015 at 4:27pm PDT

Drôles d'engins dans les rues de #paris aujourd'hui ! #journeesansvoitures #carsfreeday #insolite A photo posted by Héloise Fayet (@heloise.fayet) on Sep 27, 2015 at 5:49am PDT

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Monday’s Headlines

Another study shows health benefits of biking far outweigh risks; Santa Rosa loses a freeway plan, gains a park; Take transit to the Rose Parade; More

December 23, 2024

New Metro Subway Railcars Started Service Today

Streetsblog got a special preview ride today. Have you ridden Metro's new "HR4000" heavy rail cars yet?

December 23, 2024

Letter to Readers: Happy Holidays and Thoughts on the Year’s Takeaways

2024 will be remembered as a seminal year for San Francisco streets

December 23, 2024

Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024

It was a busy year in the movement to end car dependency — and there's a lot more to come.

December 23, 2024

Friday’s Headlines

New, wider sidewalks in SF's Tenderloin; Environmental groups sue CARB over biofuels; Biden sets national climate goals; More

December 20, 2024
See all posts