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Belfast follows Paris with three hour car free Sunday

Part of a worldwide event, Ciclovia Belfast ended with calls from cyclists for more traffic-free Sundays

Belfast was the latest city to close some of its city centre streets to motor traffic for three and a three quarter hours this morning so people could cycle and enjoy normally traffic-dominated roads.

Named Ciclovia, and apparently part of a "worldwide event", the initiative generated slightly less of a buzz than the recent traffic Paris sans Voiture, but seems to have been popular nonetheless.

So those on bikes could ride traffic-free Botanic Avenue, Shaftesbury Square, Dublin Road and Bedford St were closed to motor traffic for the event, which also featured music and other entertainment.

- First 'car-free' day in Paris sees massive pollution and noise drop

Inevitably, as with Paris, the event has turned local cyclists' minds towards the idea of permanently cycle-friendly streets, with some helpful designs offered to boot. 

Enthusiasm was so great, in fact, there was a mild tendency towards exaggeration of the event's success.

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macrophotofly | 9 years ago
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Most Sundays, here in Tokyo, they shut off some of the roads round the Imperial Palace for cycling from 10am to 4pm. These are wide carriageways with 4 lanes each way in one of the world's most populous cities and they manage it.

You still have to stop for Red lights (this is Tokyo!) but it provides a great area for cyclists of all ages to enjoy a few km's of open space

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Beatnik69 | 9 years ago
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I was at this with my daughter today and it was absolutely fantastic. Thank you to the organisers, the volunteers, the marshals and all those who provided entertainment. Here's to the next one. Let's hope it's not too far off.  4

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SteppenHerring | 9 years ago
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Great for the kids.

I remember coming back from watching the first London-Surrey classic on Leith Hill. On the A24 just out of Dorking, there was a small lad - maybe 4 or 5 years old - riding his bike on the dual carriageway. He was loving having so much empty tarmac to play with. Made my day.

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kitkat | 9 years ago
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Great to see people out enjoying it.

The three hour window is a bit miserable but from small seeds...

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Yorky-M | 9 years ago
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super stuff

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Yorky-M | 9 years ago
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super stuff

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Das | 9 years ago
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Its started, wont be long now till more cities follow suit. Wait till its one day a month, then one day a week..... Ok im now getting carried away with myself.  35

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darrylxxx | 9 years ago
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Belfast had regular traffic free periods for years. In my day they were called bomb scares.

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