It's a good week for pedestrians in Milan, Italy. From today until Wednesday, private cars and motorcycles are completely banned in the city between 10 AM and 4 PM, according to the BBC.
It's part of an attempt to curb pollution in the smog-filled metropolis, which was named the most polluted city in Europe in 2008. The smog problem has worsened recently due to drought, leading Milan to follow in the footsteps of other European cities with a car ban (albeit, a temporary one).
Milan residents won't be forced to walk or bike. The city has introduced a discounted all-day public transportation ticket during the ban for just $1.65.
Plus, the ban is only for six hours in the middle of the day; commuters will still be able to drive to and from work. Add that to the fact that it's a holiday week and the car ban doesn't seem so inconvenient.
The overall effect: Eerie cyclist paradise.
Milan isn't the only Italian city to institute a car ban this week. Smog has also prompted Rome to enforce alternate day driving (odd-numbered license plates on day, even-numbered plates the next).
The town of San Vitaliano, located outside Naples, has gone so far as to ban wood-fired pizza stoves.
Meanwhile, the rest of Europe inches closer to removing cars from clogged cities. By 2019, Oslo, Norway plans to ban cars from its city center.
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