Car-free Sundays return to Paris's Champs-Elysées

The monthly car-free days on the Champs-Elysées, cancelled for security reasons in August, will return tomorrow and continue on the first Sunday of each month, according to an announcement from the office of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

The pedestrian holidays have a dual purpose: to draw more people into using public spaces in the capital, and to highlight the need to reduce Paris's perpetual smog problem. And with 300,000 pedestrian visitors on an ordinary day, it provides an opportunity to spread out a bit.

During the 7 am to 8 pm closing, there will be a variety of activities along the avenue, including a drone-flying demonstrations, with some of the tiny aircraft racing at speeds up to 130 km/h.