STREETS in the Old City will be car-free this weekend for the first of weekly closures introduced by Bristol mayor George Ferguson.
Motorised vehicles are to be banned from Corn Street and Small Street during all weekends. Bicycles will be the only form of transport able to use those roads.
Mr Ferguson has introduced an experimental traffic order, which will be in force from 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to midnight on Sundays.
The move is part of Mr Ferguson's ambition to improve the historic area, making it more attractive to visitors and supporting the local economy.
His ideal is for people to be able to browse shops and stalls, and enjoy street cafes, free from traffic hazards and pollution.
The move follows the successful launch of Make Sundays Special, a monthly street festival in the city centre where motorised traffic is also banned.
Mr Ferguson has hailed the Make Sundays Special events huge successes for the city, which is the first in the UK to introduce such a project.
According to Mr Ferguson, the idea of Make Sundays Special was so popular it led to traders asking for it to be extended.
He said that he wanted to continue the culture of "claiming back the streets" of the city.