The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration marked the International Car Free Day this morning  with an event in front of Central World shopping mall to urge motorists to reduce their use of private cars and switch to public transport.

More than 1,000 cyclists participated in the car-free campaign presided over by Bangkok deputy governor Sakhonthee Pattiyakul.

A bicycle ride started in front of Central World shopping mall, heading toward Petchaburi road, then Banthadthong road and into Rama 1 road before turning back to the starting point covering a distance of five kilometres.

The city administration has been observing  the International Car Free Day for 18 years in an effort to encourage motorists to reduce the use of their cars and to turn to public transport in order to ease environment problem and to improve the quality of life in the city.