OXFORD’S first World Car Free Day will take place tomorrow – and will close off Broad Street to any motorists.

Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to walk or ride along the whole of the street as part of the day. It will be held to encourage motorists to get out of their cars and to highlight the benefits of having areas that are traffic-free.

The day has been supported by Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council.

Tomorrow, visitors to Broad Street will be able to enjoy a BMX ‘pump’ track especially assembled for World Car Free Day by British Cycling.

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Accessible and adapted cycles will be available from the Wheels for All group.

Other slow bike racing and stalls will be set up to give information about walking, cycling and improving transport.

The event will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Craig Simmons, at 11am.

Suzanne Bartington, Oxfordshire County Council’s cycling champion, said: “World Car Free Day in Oxford will give us all an opportunity to re-imagine the city centre with fewer cars, cleaner air and less noise.

“It is a celebration of people-centred, environmentally-friendly ways of moving around the city and an opportunity to try out alternatives to car travel.”

Alex Hollingsworth, Oxford City Council’s cabinet member for planning and sustainable transport, said: “The ambitions of World Car Free Day chime with our own vision of where we want to go in Oxford – reclaiming the streets, particularly those in the city centre, for cycling and walking wherever and whenever possible.

“This Sunday, Oxford can enjoy Broad Street at its best – an historic city square, with no vehicles.

“In the years ahead I hope we can make that permanent.”

Although it is Oxford’s first World Car Free Day, it has been celebrated in other major cities since 2000.

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Josh Lenthall, senior strategic relationship manager at Active Oxfordshire said: “Active Oxfordshire is delighted to be supporting World Car Free Day.

“As well as improved air quality in the county, we believe that a reduction in cars on our roads will create a better environment for people to be able to build physical activity into their daily lives through walking, cycling and other forms of active travel.”