Paris - Grass sprouted in a central Paris square, and politicians took to their bikes and others to their horses yesterday as more than 160 cities and towns in three countries staged a "car-free day" to fight the tyranny of the car.
The French Environment Minister, Ms Dominique Voynet, a Green, led a parade of cycle-borne ministers as they headed for a weekly cabinet meeting at the presidential Elysee Palace in central Paris.
The initiative began with 35 towns last year and doubled to 66 this year. Joining it were 92 cities and towns in Italy, including Florence, Turin, Genoa, Rome and Naples, as well as the Swiss city of Geneva and surrounding towns.