CITY SPORTS and Development Division (CSDD) and City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) set guidelines for the first-ever car-free Sunday on Dec. 1.
During the iSpeak Media Conference on Thursday, City sports head Mikey Aportadera revealed that partitions will be installed to regulate the runners, cyclists, and those who prefer to walk.
“Everybody kung asa man sila magdagan, there are designated areas which lane ang gamiton, so what we intend to do we will put partitions in the middle, and directional signs,” Aportadera said.
Aportadera reminded the public to bring their own water bottles to keep hydrated as the coastal road will be off-limits to vendors.
The official stressed that while taking selfies or groufie is not prohibited, the public is encouraged to step aside on the sidewalk to avoid disruptions. Zumba on the other hand is discouraged on the coastal road.
CTTMO head Dionisio Abude said the office has identified areas where the billboards and traffic advisories will be installed prior to Sunday’s event.
“This is to inform the public that this coming Sunday and the succeeding Sundays, the coastal road is closed from 4-8 a.m,” Abude said.
The areas identified are Tulip Drive, Bago Aplaya, Talomo, and Punta Dumalag. On top of the traffic advisories, directional signs for parking areas and U-Turn slots will be installed.
CTTMO will monitor the activities on Sunday and succeeding Sundays to ensure the public is in their designated lanes.
The Southbound lanes are dedicated to cycling, while the Northbound lanes are for walking, running, and jogging.
Abude added since the road will be closed at 4 a.m., the public is advised to use Matina Aplaya and Mc. Arthur Highway.
Apart from the mobile units, the CTTMO will deploy 10 personnel to be stationed in Corner Tulip Ecoland Drive, Dumalag to regulate the tricycle drop-off area, Talomo, and Bago Aplaya.
The official assured before the program was materialized, a study was conducted to assess whether traffic count in the area on a Sunday would be affected if roads were closed.
“Based on that survey, we come up that those vehicles using the coastal road when it is closed can still be catered for in Matina Aplaya and McArthur Highway,” he stressed.
The coastal road will open to vehicular traffic minutes after 8 o’clock to give leeway for the enforcers to remove the directional signs.
