For the first time ever the centre of Paris was car-free all day long on Sunday, in a bid to promote cleaner forms of transport in a festive atmosphere. The future goal is to become like Brussels where a car-free day takes place every year in 19 districts of the city, reports RFI.
Private cars were not allowed to drive through the centre of Paris between 11.00am and 6.00pm on Sunday.
Outside this zone, cars were allowed to drive at 20km/hour maximum, while taxis, buses and residents could use "green zones".
This is the just one of the latest efforts to raise public awareness of environmental issues as Paris gears up to host the Cop21 climate change conference in November.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo approved the initiative in October 2014 after being approached by group of scientists, high-profile individuals and residents.
As well as the move to reduce traffic, the Paris Sans Voiture collective organised a range of activities for locals and visitors alike from picnics, music concerts, sports and games.
But spokesperson Delphine Grinberg expressed disappointment with the final arrangements.
The group was angry about the restricted size of the official perimeter, which police refused to extend, and the fact that some working-class neighbourhoods were not included in the festivities, she told Libération newspaper.