Edinburgh city centre goes car-free to combat air pollution

Open air yoga and chess games fill streets for trial initiative

The historic Old Town area was closed to vehicles for several hours (Twitter/The City of Edinburgh Council)

Roads in central Edinburgh closed to vehicles for the first time on Sunday as the Scottish capital joined the Open Streets movement to combat air pollution.

The city’s historic Old Town was shut to motorised vehicles between midday and 5pm.

Instead of traffic, the area was filled with members of the public taking part in activities ranging from open air yoga to giant chess games.

Musical performances, Tai Chi and electronic bike trials were also on offer.

Edinburgh is the first British city to join the Open Streets movement.

As part of the initiative, the city centre will close to motorised vehicles on the first Sunday of every month during an 18-month trial.

The initiative has seen cities around the world opening streets to pedestrians by regularly closing them to cars and other vehicles.

“We’ve seen how successful similar schemes internationally have proved by encouraging active travel, improving air quality and creating a safer, more relaxed atmosphere so I can’t wait to see this take shape in the capital,” Lesley Maciines, an Edinburgh councillor, said.

“Climate change is a real threat to society, it’s clear that we have to act, and Open Streets is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

Open air yoga was one of the activities offered (Twitter/The City of Edinburgh Council)

“We are wholeheartedly committed to creating an accessible, sustainable and people-friendly city and I look forward to seeing lots of residents and visitors enjoying all that’s on offer on 5 May against a cleaner, more welcoming traffic-free backdrop.”

Open Streets is a project managed by 8 80 Cities and Streets Plans, two US based organisations.

“On an Open Street people traffic replaces car traffic, and streets become places where people of all ages, abilities and background can come out and improve their health,” a project spokesperson said.

“They are free, regularly occurring programmes that offer communities the opportunity to experience their city streets in a whole new way.”

Additional reporting by agencies