A portion of Roxas Boulevard will now be car-free every Sunday

More and more cities across Metro Manila are starting to implement car-free weekends. The latest addition to that growing list? Manila City.

According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the Manila City Council (MCC) has passed a city ordinance that bans all vehicles on a portion of Roxas Boulevard from 5am to 9am every Sunday. Specifically, the north- and southbound lanes from Padre Burgos Avenue to Quirino Avenue will be closed off to motorists.

OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
11am–11pm mall hours being studied to help ease Metro Manila traffic
San Miguel Corporation says delinquent RFID users are causing traffic

PHOTO BY Google Maps

The MCC said: “The ordinance was practically patterned after the ‘car-free or carless days’ in certain metropolitan cities such as Paris, New York, Vancouver, etc. It was also tried in nearby cities such as Makati and Pasig.

“The filed draft ordinance was encouraged and supported by the members of the council. All of them are looking forward to experiencing a car-free Sunday in the City of Manila. This is also a way of letting people enjoy the natural beauty of the city, particularly the view of Manila Bay.”

For motorists traveling through the area, they may take these alternate routes:

Roxas Boulevard car-free Sundays: Alternate routes for motorists

1. Northbound motorists on Roxas Boulevard: Turn right onto Quirino Avenue and proceed to destination.
2. Southbound vehicles on Roxas Boulevard: Turn left onto P. Burgos Avenue and proceed to destination.
3. Vehicles coming from Jones, MacArthur, or Quezon Bridge: Go straight to Taft Avenue and proceed to destination.
4. Vehicles coming from P. Burgos Avenue westbound intending to utilize southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard: Make full turn at roundtable straight to Maria Orosa Street, then turn right to Kalaw Avenue and proceed to destination.
5. Vehicles coming from Kalaw Avenue westbound intending to use southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard: Turn left onto M.H. del Pilar Street and proceed to destination.
6. Vehicles coming from of UN Avenue westbound intending to use southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard: Turn left onto M.H. del Pilar Street and proceed to destination.
7. Trailer trucks and heavy vehicles coming from Delpan Bridge: Turn around at Anda Circle to northbound lane of Mel Lopez Boulevard, then take C3 to destination.
8. Vehicles coming from Finance Road to P. Burgos Avenue then turn right onto Bonifacio Drive to destination.
9. Vehicles coming from Quirino Avenue westbound: Turn left onto Roxas Boulevard southbound and proceed to destination.

This new initiative from Manila City is also part of the local government unit’s efforts to boost its environmental protection program as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle among its constituents.