Ayala Avenue Turns Car-Free Every Sunday Morning of September
It's a win for pedestrians.
(SPOT.ph) Heads up, motorists: Another one of Makati City’s busiest roads is set to become a car-free zone every Sunday morning in September.
Ayala Avenue will be closed to cars on September 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to provide more pedestrian-friendly spaces for Makati residents and visitors. Pedestrians can take a relaxing stroll, bike, walk pets, and roller skate in Ayala Avenue’s entire 2.3-kilometer stretch.
"This is in line with our quest to make Makati the most livable and family-friendly city in the Philippines," Make It Makati said in a post. "If this trial period in Semptember is successful, we can further explore making this a full time initiative."
You can check out what Make It Makati has in store every Sunday morning through the Facebook event page.
Also read: The Most Walkable Cities in Metro Manila
What to know about car-free weekends at Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue will be specifically blocked from Courtyard Drive to HV Dela Costa/Salcedo Street on Sunday mornings. Both the west-bound and east-bound lanes will be closed to traffic.
Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas side of the Ayala Triangle Gardens will also be closed to make room for a bigger Fitness Loop.
Motorists will have to take the inner roads like Dela Rosa and Valero streets, park at a nearby mall or carpark, then walk to Ayala Avenue. Meanwhile, commuters can take a bus, jeep, or public utility vehicle to One Ayala then walk to Ayala Avenue.
Here's a list of places to park on car-free Sundays at Ayala Avenue:
Beyond Ayala Avenue
Makati City's commitment to promoting pedestrian mobility isn't new. Over the years, the city has introduced similar initiatives to transform busy thoroughfares for the people on the weekends.
Paseo de Roxas has been car-free for almost every weekend since 2016 to host Makati Street Meet, where people gather for food, fun, and entertainment.
You can also find the Fitness Loop at the borders of Ayala Triangle Gardens, which is a pedestrianized lane along Paseo de Roxas, Ayala Avenue, and Makati Avenue. It’s open every weekend from 7 a.m. on Saturday until 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Also read: Bring Your Bikes and Skates as Ayala Triangle Opens a Car-Free Fitness Loop