Skateboarders Skirt Milan Traffic Ban

Enterprising Christmas shoppers used skateboards here Saturday when this city closed its business center to cars and trucks to combat pollution.

Others took to the streets on horses, bicycles and on foot. The City Council said the ban would be in force both Saturday and today for 12 hours daily.

Pollution levels have been above locally set limits for the past three days. It is the third successive winter that authorities have banned traffic to reduce pollution.