Brussels prepares corona edition of Car-Free Sunday

Brussels' Car-Free Sunday will go ahead as planned this year, with a focus on smaller, local events, organisers have announced.

Motor vehicles, other than buses and taxis, will again be banned throughout the Brussels region on 20 September.

The big events in the city centre traditionally associated with car-free day, including the Mobilmix village in the Royal Park, will make way for smaller gatherings.

Organised outdoor events are allowed again from 1 July, with a maximum 400 people, potentially increasing to 800 from August.

By September, if the coronavirus figures remain in decline, large public events could be allowed again - but Car-Free Sunday organisers have used this as an opportunity to rethink the event altogether.

"This year will be the occasion for a geographical reorganisation," said Brussels mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt.

Instead, each Brussels municipality will be encouraged to organise its own local mobility-themed events.

Car-Free Sunday will this year coincide with the 32nd edition of Brussels Heritage Days, with likely restrictions on visitor numbers and advance bookings required.