Bhutan bans driving...on Tuesdays
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THIMPHU, Bhutan -- Tuesdays in the small Himalayan nation of Bhutan will become "Pedestrians' Day" after the country's cabinet approved a one-day-a-week ban on driving in town centers during business hours, the Kuensel newspaper reported Friday.
"Tuesdays will be a day when Bhutanese citizens would seize the opportunity to contemplate the fragile nature of our precious Himalayan mountain ecology and make a small contribution," the cabinet said in a statement.
"This will also be a day Bhutanese all over will walk for their health and promote [the] joy of walking, together with friends, family and colleagues, and thereby promote interaction and community vitality," it added.
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The decision means that driving will be banned in town centers on Tuesdays between 8:00am local time and 6:00pm local time.
Electric and hybrid vehicles will still be allowed to use the roads, as will emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police cars.
Bhutan has a population of only 700,000 people. It is known around the world for its promotion of Gross National Happiness as a measure of the country's development.
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"Pedestrian's Day" will begin in Bhutan on June 5, coinciding with World Environment Day.