Metro Manila is seeing a growing trend of local governments designating streets as car-free zones on Sundays, a move that promotes sustainable transport, public health, and community engagement.
Marikina City joins the Car-Free Sunday movement, closing part of Gil Fernando Avenue every Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The initiative strengthens its commitment to people-friendly, green urban spaces. With 52 km of interconnected bike lanes, Marikina is shaping a city where cycling and walking are a way of life.
“We are promoting walking and biking to school and work. This is one way of giving residents a safe space so they can bond with their families and friends,” Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said.
In Quezon City, the local government’s “Car-Free, Carefree Tomas Morato Sundays” closes a stretch of Tomas Morato Avenue to motor vehicles every Sunday morning, allowing residents to walk, bike, and enjoy the open space.
Similarly, in Manila, the city’s Roxas Boulevard has been designated car-free under Ordinance No. 9047, providing dedicated lanes for cyclists and joggers along a 2.3-kilometer stretch from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Sunday.
In Makati City, the local government’s initiative on Ayala Avenue transforms one of the busiest business districts into a pedestrian-friendly zone on Sundays. CCC News
