Urban planner pushes for ‘pedestrianising’ select streets

CAN a street in your neighbourhood be made into a mini-park?

An urban planner and transportation expert yesterday sought to make more streets in the country pedestrian-friendly to become a place for active transportation, exercise and business opportunities.

Robert Siy of Move As One Coalition said pedestrianising select streets would also be helpful in the time of the epidemic, when people needed some open space and some sun.

He added that it was safer to stay out in well-ventilated areas than inside while encouraging Filipinos to use the streets as a place for active transport, play and exercise.

“This is a concept that we see in many other countries, where they are able to make some of their streets car-less and at the same time make it more usable for the community, for children, for more green space,” he told an online media forum organised by the Department of Health.

Siy also shared that a pedestrianized street could be decorated with an abundance of greenery.

“You can actually decorate a pedestrianised street with more greenery and then it becomes almost like a mini-park in your own neighbourhood,” he added.

Siy also highlighted the potential benefits of pedestrianising streets to Filipinos’ health and wellbeing, as well as its ability to revitalise neighbourhoods.

For instance, a restaurant could use some space on the street for outdoor dining, said Siy.

“Let’s use our streets to provide that extra space,” he added.

A November 2020 poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations and commissioned by the DOH showed that 85% of Filipinos believed that their city or municipality could become a great place for walking and cycling.

Meanwhile, 87% agreed that roads would be better off if public transportation, bicycles and pedestrians were given priority over private vehicles.