Sections of Bloor and Yonge Streets have reopened to vehicles after being closed to traffic on Sunday morning as part of a pilot program promoting physical activity.
From 8 a.m. until noon, Bloor Street was closed from Spadina Avenue to Parliament Street, and Yonge Street was closed from Bloor to Queen Street as part of Open Streets TO.
During the four-hour closure, people replaced cars and the streets became "paved parks," Open Streets TO said in a message posted online.
Toronto joins other major cities including New York City, Medellin, Colombia and Guadalajara, Mexico that have similar traditions, closing streets to cars to encourage healthy recreation.
The event featured activity hubs including skipping, ping pong, yoga, live music, sidewalk chalk, free samples of food and a gaming station.
Toronto mayoral candidates John Tory, David Soknacki, Morgan Baskin and Olivia Chow joined Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam at the event.
#OpenstreetsTO selfie with mayoral candidates David Soknaki, Olivia Chow, Morgan Baskin and John Tory. pic.twitter.com/AHZkXwVZtm
— Kristyn Wong-Tam 黃慧文 (@kristynwongtam) August 17, 2014
Mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson also took a walk down the closed streets.
The same sections of Bloor and Yonge will be closed Sunday, Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Similarly, streets in Kensington Market are shut down to traffic from noon to 7 p.m. the last Sunday of every month from May to October.
