BOLIVIA’S PRESIDENT EVO Morales showed his support for the country’s inaugural National Day of the Pedestrian on Sunday by jogging to work.

The South American country banned all motorised vehicles, including public transport, from cities yesterday, reports the BBC.

The initiative was taken to raise awareness about the environment, the Bolivian government said.

Morales was pictured jogging in La Paz surrounded by bodyguards who were also decked out in their running gear. He ran the full 6km from the official presidential residence to government headquarters.

His government has come in for criticism lately as it plans to build a highway through the Amazon rainforest. Officials hope that yesterday’s efforts will remind people that Morales is known to be an advocate of environmental issued.

According to authorities, two millon cars were taken off the streets yesterday, highlighting Bolivia’s commitment to “Mother Nature”.

Latin American news channel NTN24 reported that the streets were turned into playgrounds for pedestrians who reclaimed the streets.

Artists, street performers and exercise instructors set up stalls on Sunday, while in La Paz, some pedestrians dressed up as zebras and played hopscotch.

Bolivia’s National Day of the Pedestrian has been made an annual event and will occure on the first Sunday of September each year.