Part of Roxas Blvd goes ‘car-free’ every Sunday morning to promote fitness

The city government of Manila on Sunday launched an initiative to promote healthy lifestyles by making a portion of Roxas Boulevard closed to motorists every Sunday morning to allow people to exercise.

Starting May 26, the 2.3 kilometer portion of Roxas Boulevard from Padre Burgos Avenue to Quirino Avenue would be “car-free” every Sunday from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., to allow people to walk, jog, bike, and do all sorts of exercise.

The southbound lane is meant for joggers, while the northbound lane is for cyclists, based on a dzBB report of Mao dela Cruz.

The “Move Manila Car-Free Sundays by the Bay” was launched following the signing of Ordinance No. 9047 by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on May 13 “to make Roxas Boulevard partly car-free and promote healthy lifestyles.”

An advisory from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau said that the initiative will run until June 30, 2024.

Lacuna earlier said that the initiative could encourage people “to shed off some of the excess weight they gained during the pandemic while they appreciate the historical, cultural, and economic significance of Roxas Boulevard from Luneta to Quirino Avenue.”

“The walkers, joggers, runners, and bikers will get to see for themselves the results of the road reblocking and improvements underway on Roxas Boulevard,” the mayor said in an earlier statement posted by the Manila Public Information Office.

She also said that waste management and public safety measures would be implemented to ensure the success of the pro-environment, healthy lifestyle activity.—Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News