Montreal was among a number of cities across Canada and around the world taking part in the annual Car-Free Day on Tuesday.
Since the idea originated in Europe in 1999, it has grown to include about 1,500 cities.
People who ordinarily drive are encouraged to use public transit, cycle or walk to get around for the day -- in an effort to reduce pollution.
In the city's downtown core, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGill College to St. Urbain and De Maisonneve to Rene-Levesque was a car-free zone.
Students cycle to school
As part of this year's event, some students from Royal West Academy decided to bike to school.
Justin Beaveridge woke up before sunrise so he would have time to ride his bike all the way from his home in Ile Bizard to Montreal West.
Beaveridge said he was inspired to take up the cycling challenge after seeing an ad for Car-Free Day on the train on his way to school.
"The idea just kind of came to me and I thought it would work if we could get a bunch of students to come in by bike," he said.
His father, Ralph Beaveridge, said the ride -- in the dark and in the rain -- was certainly out of the ordinary.
"I'm really not comfortable with that on a general basis -- today's an exception. I think that he's got a great idea and I want him to go with it," said the elder Beaveridge.
Beaveridge wasn't alone for the ride. Dozens of his peers joined him along the way, including Debra Bercovici.
"If you can do it, you should do it because it's great and it feels good too in the morning...You come to school and you're all pumped up," said Bercovici.
