A week of events designed to reduce Europeans' reliance on their vehicles culminates on Monday with the fifth European Car Free Day in more than 900 cities across over 20 countries.

The Belgian capital got in on the act a day early with street parties and concerts held in balmy late-summer temperatures on the unusually quiet roads.

Public transport was free for the day, with shuttle buses ferrying car drivers in from the ring road encircling Brussels.

"The city has been returned to its inhabitants for a day," the city government's transport minister, Jos Chabert, told RTL television.

"There have been no major incidents -- on the contrary, there's a festive atmosphere on the streets," he said.

Police, however, warned bicyclists unused to having the city's wide-open boulevards to themselves that traffic regulations remained in force.

That did not stop many from sailing through red lights, with only taxis and vehicles with special permits such as delivery vans impeding their progress.

TERRA.WIRE