SEATTLE - What do you do when the city shuts down the streets in your neighborhood?

Many residents of Capitol Hill found out first-hand what it was like Sunday when several streets were closed as part of the mayor's plan to cut down on traffic and pollution.

Although some other cities have been trying this for some time, Sunday's experiment in Capitol Hill was the first time it has been done in Seattle.

Residents there found there was plenty of room to bike and walk.

And two friends, little Sarah and Sophie, decided why not start a lemonade stand?

"We hope we're going to make a lot of money because we're going to donate all of it to a charity," said Sarah.

It worked out well until the rain came, and they had to close down shop for the day.

But even though they're nowhere near old enough to drive they got the point as everyone in their neighborhood gave their cars the day off.

"There are a variety of other cities across the nation - New York, San Francisco, Portland - that have longstanding car-free days, but this is the first time we're trying the experiment of car-free days here in Seattle," says Rick Sheridan of the city's transportation department.

Besides saving fuel and the environment, the idea is to get people out of their houses - exploring the city without driving their cars.

Is it working? Many people say yes - but not everyone.

One person who isn't sold on the idea is Joyce Glasgow.

"To me, car-free day would mean leave your car and walk or take the bus," she says.

Instead - though - the city forced everyone on one street to park their cars somewhere else - leaving the street completely clear.

And the people who didn't move their cars in time paid the price. At least 15 cars were ticketed and towed off the street.

Despite that, the city of Seattle is planning more car-free days in other neighborhoods in the coming weeks and months.

Next weekend, there will be a three-hour shutdown in Rainier Valley, and the week after that there will be street closures at Alki and Alki Beach. Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed the weekend after that.