The second Journée Sans Voitures got off to a wet start today but that didn’t stop the city’s cyclists, skateboarders, skaters and pedestrians getting out to claim the car free streets.

 

 

The police had declined to authorise a large parade so many small processions and group rides were organised from different quarters of the city.  This group of cyclists looked rather serious…

 

 

but these skateboarders were determined to have a good time, rain or not.  There was no time to compose or focus this picture properly.  It was a blink and you’ve missed it moment.

After the success of the first car free day last September the plans this year were much more ambitious.  Nearly half of Paris intra-muros (or within the ring road) was nominally car free from 11.00 till 6.00.  In practice only a few streets were completely closed to cars –  taxis were circulating freely and private motorists were entitled to return home within the closed zone – but today cars weren’t dominating the streets.