Large numbers of Paris citizens and tourists gathered at the Champs-Elysees avenue on Sunday on a car-free day.
Most of the traffic in the French capital’s often-busy streets had disappeared that day.
Passersby wandered along the infamous road in Paris to view the Arc de Triomphe in its temporary art showcase.
The monument had been surrounded with silver covering, as the late artist Christo saw.
“It’s our chance to walk on the ‘Champs’ and look at the Arc de Triomphe,” said Annie Matuszewski.
Additionally, The 68-year-old Parisian said, “It is time to look at it face-to-face, and not just from the sidewalk.”
The first car-free day in Paris was in 2015, and it took place in the central zone, but later in 2017, it expanded to other districts in the city.
Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, has pursued holding the event annually to limit vehicle use and reduce air pollution.
Moreover, other streets in the capital were filled with walkers and cyclists on Sunday.
However, public buses, taxis and personal cars for essentials could still use some of the streets.
The socialist-leaning mayor is a candidate in the presidential election next year.
She reduced speed limits in some streets from 50 kph to 30 kph and made streets along River Seine pedestrians-only.
However, the policies have provoked bikers, especially residents of the countryside, who say there are no alternative means of transportation.
“Car-free day is great if we integrate the entire Paris region,” said Patrice, a retired woman in the countryside.
“Otherwise, it’s almost as if they’re saying people living in Paris are doing fine inside their perimeter, and everything outside is not worth their attention.”
