Moscow : A traffic free Day

Virtually the only days you can see empty Moscow streets are when police cordon off main thoroughfares on Victory Day and City Day.
But this Tuesday authorities hope a little gentle persuasion - and the odd incentive - may ease the city's horrendous traffic jams.
The initiative - to celebrate "No Car Day" - is happening for the second year running on September 22, in line with events in 2,000 cities around the world.
But Moscow residents or even officials aren't exactly optimistic that the city's baby steps will make much of a difference.
Among the tricks proposed to keep cars off the streets are halving bus fares, said Pyotr Ivanov, general director of Mosgortrans, RIA Novosti reported.
But the discount applies only to one-time tickets bought at a ticket vendor, and not to tickets bought in the bus from the driver, or to monthly tickets. Although it was possible to buy these discount tickets from last weekend, they are valid only on Tuesday, September 22.
Ivanov said that he himself would only walk or use public transport that day.
"I'll try to take a little load off the streets that way," he told reporters.
The city is appealing to employers to ask their employees not to bring their cars into work that day, Ivanov said. But as it's a voluntary scheme, not much difference is expected.
Meanwhile, although the Moscow metro system is formally backing the campaign, it is not lowering fares.
Moscow's piecemeal measures contrast poorly with some in other places, but many cities have experienced mixed results.
Paris, for example, has tried restricting the lanes private cars can travel in, but that led to excessive congestion, even during August when most Parisians are on vacation.
In London, vehicles that drive within a certain zone of central London between 7 am and 6 pm on weekdays are obliged to pay an £8 ($13) daily Congestion Charge. Those who pay the hefty fee are free to come and go as they please all day but those who are caught skipping the charge are fined between £60 and £180, depending on how quickly (and quietly) they pay.
The measure was introduced in February 2003. Other cities have tried to introduce such charges - Singapore was the first in 1975, and Rome, Milan and Stockholm use similar schemes to combat traffic jams. New York City tried to implement the measure, but plans ground to a halt in 2008 due to overwhelming opposition. San Francisco is considering the measure.
"In Brussels and Paris, they partition off some of the streets [for this day]. In New York City, they close off some of the streets," said Ivanov.
Moscow, he says, is trying a different approach: relying on the goodwill of Muscovites.