Car-free days in the Philippines refers to several government and private sector initiatives designating certain areas at specific days or times as car-free to promote gatherings, exercise, and other recreational activities.
Car-free days in the Philippines refers to several government and private sector initiatives designating certain areas at specific days or times as car-free to promote gatherings, exercise, and other recreational activities.
The earliest known example of a car-free area in the country was the pedestrianization of Rizal Avenue from Recto Avenue to Carriedo Street in Santa Cruz, Manila in 2003. The initiative however, was reversed due to traffic complaints. The segment was reopened to vehicular traffic in 2007. [1]
On June 3, 2012, the Pasig city government launched a car-free day along F. Ortigas Jr. Road in Ortigas Center, closing the road to motor vehicle traffic on Sunday mornings. [2] The car-free day was suspended during the COVID-19 lockdowns from 2020 to 2021, where it was revived in November 2021 as Open Street Sundays. [3] Since 2021, Pasig has since designated more roads with car-free days, dubbing the program as People's Streets. [4]
In February 2021, the entire 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig was made car-free every weekend. [5]
In September 2023, Ayala Land, the Makati Commercial Estates Association (MaCEA), and the Makati government launched Car Free Sundays at Ayala Avenue, closing most of Ayala Avenue as well as parts of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas around the Ayala Triangle Gardens on Sunday mornings. [6]
In December 2023, car-free days were also initiated by the Greenfield Development Corporation in Greenfield District, with parts of Mayflower Street being closed to traffic on Sunday mornings. [7]
In May 2024, Manila City Ordinance No. 9047 was signed, launching Move Manila Car-Free Sundays By the Bay which designates a 2.3 km (1.4 mi) portion of Roxas Boulevard as car-free on Sunday mornings. [5] The city is also studying the possibility of expanding its car-free days to the Pasig River Esplanade and Binondo district. [8]
In November 2024, Villar City launched its own Car-Free Sundays, which closes a 3 km (1.9 mi) segment of Villar Avenue from Daang Hari to Amore Avenue (Vista Avenue) for walking, running, and cycling on Sunday mornings. [9] A 2.2 to 2.4 km (1.4 to 1.5 mi) mountain biking trail adjacent to the closed segment was also launched in February 2025. [10]
In December 2024, following public consultations conducted by Rappler and the Quezon City government in September 2024, [11] the Quezon City Council passed City Ordinance No. SP-3345 S-2024. The ordinance creates a Car-Free, Carefree Sundays initiative along Tomas Morato Avenue and closes the segment from Scout Rallos Street to Don A. Roces Avenue on the first Sunday of each month for activities such as Zumba, jogging, cycling, exercise, and social gatherings. In January 2025, the initiative was expanded to take place on every other Sunday. [12] [13]
In March 2025, Marikina launched its Car-Free Sundays by closing a portion of Gil Fernando Avenue from Bayan-Bayanan Access Road to Guerilla Street and inaugurating a public mural that showcases notable landmarks and personalities, as well as the history and culture of Marikina. [14]
| Name | Year started | Schedule | Coverage | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Free Sundays at Ayala Avenue | 2023 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Makati Central Business District, Makati |
| Car-Free Sundays at Mayflower Street | 2023 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Greenfield District, Mandaluyong |
| Car-Free, Care-Free Days | 2024 | Every other Sunday of the month, 5:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Diliman, Quezon City |
| Marikina Together: Car-Free Sundays | 2025 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Santo Niño, Marikina |
| Move Manila Car-Free Sundays By the Bay | 2024 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am | Ermita and Malate, Manila | |
| My Street High Street | 2021 | Every Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm |
| Bonifacio Global City, Taguig |
| Villar City Car-Free Sundays | 2024 | Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Villar City, Bacoor, Cavite |
| Name | Year started | Schedule | Coverage | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brgy. San Antonio People's Street | 2021 | Every Saturday, 6:00 am to Sunday 9:00 pm |
| Ortigas Center, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Bagong Ilog | 2022 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 pm |
| Bagong Ilog, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Kapasigan | 2023 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Kapasigan, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Manggahan | 2022 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Manggahan, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Oranbo | 2022 | Every Sunday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Oranbo, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Sto. Tomas | 2022 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 pm |
| Sto. Tomas, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Brgy. Sumilang | 2022 | Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm |
| Sumilang, Pasig |
| People's Street sa Caruncho | 2022 | Every Saturday, 6:00 am to Sunday 9:00 pm |
| San Nicolas (Pob.), Pasig |