Tomas Morato Is Now Car-Free Every First Sunday of the Month

(SPOT.ph) Prepare to experience a different kind of Tomas Morato Avenue as the usually car-packed street turns into a pedestrian-friendly space for runners, bikers, and families on selected Sundays mornings.

Beginning December 8, the stretch between Scout Rallos Street and Don A. Roces Avenue in Quezon City will be closed to vehicles from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on every first Sunday of the month. Both the westbound and eastbound lanes will be closed to traffic.

The following streets will also be closed:

• Scout Tuason / Scout Limbaga
• Scout Tuason / Scout Fuentebella
• Scout Tuason / Scout De Guia
• Scout Tuason / Dr. Lazcano
• Scout Tuason / Scout Lozano
• Scout Torillo / Scout Rallos
• Scout Torillo / Scout Fernandez
• Scout Torillo / Scout Gandia
• Scout Torillo / Scout De Guia
• Scout Tuason / Dr. Lazcano
• Scout Tuason / Scout Delgado
• Scout Tuason / Scout Castor
• Scout Delgado / Scout Torillo
• Scout Torillo / Scout Castor

According to the Quezon City government, this initiative will increase its frequency to every other Sunday once it moves into its second phase after a year of implementation.

Also read: PSA: These Metro Manila Roads Are Car-Free On Weekends

How car-free Tomas Morato came to be

The idea for car-free Sundays came after a series of consultations by Councilor Irene Belmonte who sought to strike a balance between the city's environmental goals and the needs of residents and business owners. Feedback was gathered through Facebook, Google Forms, and in-person meetings, with over 200 individuals weighing in on the proposal.

Initially, the ordinance proposed a full-day car-free period across the entire stretch of Tomas Morato Avenue but community input led to a scaled-down plan. Many stakeholders favored a shorter timeframe and a limited car-free zone, resulting in the current schedule of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the first phase.

Belmonte highlighted the initiative as part of Quezon City’s hopes of creating safer and more inclusive spaces for alternative transportation. The program also serves as an opportunity for the community to reimagine busy urban areas like Tomas Morato Avenue as a road that prioritizes people over cars.

This initiative follows the success of several car-free programs across Metro Manila, including Kapasigan Boulevard in Pasig City, Fifth Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Ayala Avenue in Makati City, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City, Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, and Araneta City in Cubao.

Where to pass and park on car-free Sundays at Tomas Morato

Motorists who want to enjoy the streets on foot can leave their vehicles at the following locations as these will be temporarily converted to public parking:

• Scout Limbaga
• Scout Fernandez
• Scout Fuentabella
• Scout Gandia
• Scout De Guia
• Scout Delgado
• Scout Lozano
• Scout Castor Street

The Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department has also introduced a rerouting plan to minimize traffic congestion. Take note of the alternate routes during the implementation:

UPDATED (December 11, 2024): This article has been updated to correct "every Sunday" to "every first Sunday of the month" following clarification from the Quezon City government.