MAKATI CBD DOES ‘CAR-FREE SUNDAYS’: A STEP TOWARD A HEALTHIER, SUSTAINABLE CITY
The impact of the busiest streets of Makati going car-free, for even just a few hours, goes beyond giving pedestrians and cyclists a broader space to roam. It is a nudge in the right direction for the public to incorporate a healthier lifestyle by walking, biking or using public transport, and cutting down on carbon emissions in the process—good for the environment, good for you, too!
From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. last Sunday, Sept. 10, participants traversed through a car-free Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas, and Makati Avenue, with many expressing surprise at how liberating it felt to be out and about with zero cars in sight.
Chrissy Roa, Ayala Land group head for marketing and communications for Corporate, Estates and Malls, said that the idea for the project came about because of people’s shared experiences of being cooped up at home during the pandemic.
”People really became lethargic because we were in lockdown. Most people in Makati live in condos, so they were also looking for open spaces where they could exercise... We wanted them to get into something that we could sustain. ‘Carfree Sundays’ is where we welcome everyone, across all ages, all demographics, from all cities, to take that small step toward health and sustainability.”
Car-free Sunday mornings on Ayala Avenue is an initiative that promotes sustainability, wellness and community convergence in Makati. It is an opportunity to enjoy the city differently and positively impact the environment and society. By reducing car use and encouraging alternative modes of transport, the organizers hope to help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion. By creating more open spaces for people to interact and enjoy, they aim to foster a sense of community and belongingness.
“Car-free Sundays” is an initiative of Ayala Land and Make It Makati with the support of the local government of Makati.
The launch of “Car-free Sundays” started with a warm-up led by Adidas Runners Manila, followed by a 5K fun run, with music provided by the Hernandez Brothers. While runners and cyclists did their thing, non-runners strolled through the streets that are typically filled with car traffic and noise. A yoga session was held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Even after the official festivities were over, Makatizens and other participants stayed on. Some had their fur babies in tow, and families with small children biked or skated around the area.
With International Carless Day happening on Sept. 22, Roa said she hopes that “Carfree Sundays” will eventually expand and inspire people to move forward with sustainability in mind.
“We’re doing this for the next generation. It’s really for the children that we want to leave behind a clean and sustainable city. We want people to start a life of wellness, and to know what it’s like to live a sustainable life,” she said.
“Sustainability is such a big word, most of us don’t even know where to start. So we can start with small activities like this, and avoiding using cars whenever we can, choose to carpool, upcycle, recycle. The pedestrianization of the city is a small step we can take toward a bigger goal.”
If you want to join the movement, mark your calendars for the succeeding Sundays of September and follow Make It Makati on social media for updates. Bring your family, friends, pets, bikes, skates, or anything that moves you. Let’s make Makati more livable, sustainable, and family-friendly!