MONTREAL - Pedestrians love it, most drivers hate it, and businesses, well, it depends on which ones you ask.

For the second straight year year, an ancient brick road in Old Montreal has been closed to cars.

Until September 25, motorized vehicles will be permitted on St. Paul E. between Bonsecours and St. Laurent only between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The creation of the18-hour-a-day pedestrian mall, on the road best known for its brassy Bonsecours Market, walks in lockstep with a worldwide trend which has seen cities increasingly close off touristy areas to cars.

"I think it's a great opportunity for tourism," one man said.

While many shop owners - particularly those with terraces - said the closure was a shot in the arm for their bottom line, others said it was murdering sales.

"I'm very unhappy," said one merchant. "It has killed our business completely. Our business is down almost 70 percent, which is not good."