Paris Plans Car-Free Day in September

To encourage alternative modes of transportation, Paris will initiate a one-day ban on personal cars and trucks next month.

All motorized vehicles except ambulances, police cars and public buses will be prohibited from use on about 400 miles of roads running throughout most of the main tourist areas from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25—a few days before the start of the Paris auto show. The ban, which includes electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, expands a similar program last year that covered 11 of the city’s 20 districts.

Free public transportation and the use of city-owned bicycles and electric vehicles will be available the week before the ban. Earlier this summer Paris implemented a weekday ban on older-model cars to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.