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
Some buzz @cicloviabelfast – the city has *never* been this busy on a Sunday morning 🙂 #cyclingrevolution pic.twitter.com/nIEZEba5t3
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) October 4, 2015
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.
Safely cycling along Belfast's Dublin Rd was beautiful today – we *could* have a wee @cicloviabelfast here every day pic.twitter.com/mmipdgLfWv
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) October 4, 2015
Event exchange Botanic Grds #SilverSunday each Sun in Oct & #cicloviabelfast – can we have it every Sun? @belfastcc pic.twitter.com/80ygbnxUam
— Sustrans NI (@SustransNI) October 4, 2015
In pictures: It's bikes to the future as #cicloviabelfast takes over the city http://t.co/T7Pb8mjMIc pic.twitter.com/oeMriSpC6Y
— Belfast Live (@BelfastLive) October 4, 2015
Enthusiasm was so great, in fact, there was a mild tendency towards exaggeration of the event's success.
A conservative estimate would put attendance at today's Ciclovia Belfast at around 3 – 3.5million people #roughguess pic.twitter.com/1NO1aH04NR
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) October 4, 2015

























8 thoughts on “Belfast follows Paris with three hour car free Sunday”
Belfast had regular traffic
Belfast had regular traffic free periods for years. In my day they were called bomb scares.
Its started, wont be long now
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. 8}
super stuff
super stuff
super stuff
super stuff
Great to see people out
Great to see people out enjoying it.
The three hour window is a bit miserable but from small seeds…
Great for the kids.
I
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.
I was at this with my
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. 😀
Most Sundays, here in Tokyo,
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