Traffic police will block the center of Minsk on September 22

Belarusians will be offered walking tours in Minsk downtown on Car Free Day 2013.

BelTA learnt it from the department of information and public relations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The action with a focus on the historical center of the Belarusian capital will take place in the central part of the city on 21-22 September. So traffic police is going to block the center of Minsk on September 22. On these days Minskers will have an opportunity to make a difference by joining the world car free day movement and leave their vehicles at home. Minsk residents will be able to use public transport free of charge (on the presentation of a driving license or a car registration license).

According to the ministry, a great amount of events have been prepared to mark the Day in the country this year. They will include a gallery of posters against motorization, a gallery “Urban Transport Perspective” (National Art Museum) and an expo-gallery “Green City – a Lawn on Asphalt” (at the crossroad of Karl Marx Street and Lenin Street).

Everyone will be invited to join walking tours in Minsk downtown on 22 September. They will start at the National Art Museum and the Minsk City Hall. “Excursions will tell about various architectural styles of the capital, the most interesting buildings of the historical part of the city, famous people and remarkable events”. The outings will provide an opportunity to Minsk residents walk the route of the former Minsk horse-tram, learn about some interesting stories from Stanislav Manyushko’s life and hard working life of the urban fire brigade of the early 20th century. A sightseeing tour will narrate about the most important monuments of the historical center of the Belarusian capital,” the ministry said.

As usual, some events will be aimed at the popularization of cycling.

The first Car Free Day was held in France in 1997. A year later the initiative spread across Europe. Belarus organized its first Car Free Day in 2008. In 2012 the action resulted in cutting pollutant emissions by more than 400 tonnes including nearly 100 tonnes in Minsk.