Cars begone! Walkers, cyclists take over roads during Open Streets TO

The car isn’t king today.

Pedestrians and cyclists took over part of Bloor and Yonge streets on Sunday, during the car-free Open Streets TO event.

Bloor Street was closed to vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. between Ossington Avenue and Park Road, while Yonge Street was closed to traffic from Bloor to Queen streets.

There were numerous activities lining the streets, including a charity truck pull, a dog walk, a bike ride, a ukulele jam, a skateboard park, yoga class, dance and improv workshops, and a free blood pressure clinic.

Part of Bloor Street was also turned into a “pop-up park,” with 5,000 square feet of grass lining the road.

This was the first of two Open Street TO days this year, with the next event on September 15.

It was a chance for the streets to become “paved parks” that people of all backgrounds can enjoy, the organizers said in a news release.

“The idea behind Open Streets TO is about getting out, being active and connecting people in the city without the barriers and stresses often created by vehicle traffic,” David Simor, with Open Streets TO, said in a statement.

Open Streets TO, in its sixth year, is a partnership involving the city’s parks, forestry and recreation division and Come Alive Outside.