A portion of Tomas Morato Street in Quezon City is closed to traffic on Dec. 8, 2024. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The usually busy Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City will be free of motor vehicles for several hours every Sunday morning, as the local government launches its car-less initiative.

Starting December 8, Tomas Morato Avenue from the corner of Timog Avenue to the corner of Don Alejandro Roces Avenue will be closed to motorists from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m on Sundays.

This is in accordance with the city's "Car-free, Carefree Tomas Morato Sundays" initiative.

The launch was a result of Quezon City 4th District Councilor Irene Belmonte's proposed ordinance promoting safe cycling and active transport as an alternative mode of transportation in the city.

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The QC government reminded the public of possible traffic buildup in nearby areas due to the program's launch on Sunday.

Aside from the portion of Tomas Morato Avenue, the following streets will also be closed:

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. Limbaga

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. Funtebella

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. De Guia

    - Sct. Tuason / Dr. Lazcano

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. Lozano 

    - Sct. Torillo / Sct. Rallos

    - Sct. Torillo / Sct. Fernandez

    - Sct. Torillo / Sct. Gandia

    - Sct. Torillo / Sct. De Guia

    - Sct. Tuason / Dr. Lazcano

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. Delgado

    - Sct. Tuason / Sct. Castor

    - Sct. Delgado / Sct. Torillo

    - Sct. Torillo / Sct. Castor

The QC LGU Traffic and Transport Management Department designated parking areas and implemented a rerouting scheme to avoid congestion. 

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes during the implementation of the initiative.

QC resident Sonny Colendres said he had a good experience jogging along the closed portion of Tomas Morato Avenue on Sunday morning.

"Okay, maganda. At least walang mga sasakyan gaano sa area this morning. May program, marami sila dito mga bikers. Diretso lang ako tumakbo," he told ABS-CBN News.

(It's good. At least there are fewer cars in the area in the morning. There was a program, and many bikers. I just ran past them) 

Colendres said he regularly jogs in the Scout area or the UP Diliman Academic Oval every Sunday.

"Siyempre dito maraming sasakyan, sa UP mas konti sasakyan pag Sunday," he explained.

(Of course, there are many cars here compared to UP on Sundays)

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For Colendres, QC's car-free initiative is a big help for joggers like him.

"At least maganda, at least walang polusyon kapag tumatakbo. Safe din kapag tumakbo," he share.

(At least it's nice. At least there is no pollution while running. It's safer to jog too)

With the launch of the program, Colendres hopes more joggers will take advantage of Tomas Morato Avenue being free from vehicles even for a few hours.

Business owner and biker Rom De Guzman also lauded the LGU for the initiative, since he believes QC is "one of the best places to bike in the Metro."

"It was great. Parang mas na-rerealize mo how a street like this super benefits from active transportation… It's easier to pass through, it's easier to bike through," De Guzman said.

"As a biker, I try to find streets that are fairly open to bike through and hindi traffic. Providing that, gives me more of an initiative na pumunta sa mga places dito to support the local business here because it's easy to get to," he explained.

De Guzman, who owns a café along nearby Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, believes this program will help businesses in the area.

"My business while not part of the car-free initiative, would benefit because of incident traffic," he said.

"I think more streets would be very nice," he said, adding there would be more usable space if the initiative is expanded.

Other cities in Metro Manila have implemented car-free initiatives to give people a space to walk, jog, bike and do other forms of exercise on Sundays.

In Manila, the stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Padre Burgos Avenue to Quirino Avenue is closed to motorists from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Ayala Avenue in Makati City is also car-free every Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The traffic-free area covers the whole stretch of Ayala Avenue from Salcedo to HV Dela Costa until West Street and Fonda Street.

The Ayala Triangle Gardens, the pedestrianized portions of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, is also closed for fitness activities.

Portions of Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City, Fifth Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and some streets in Pasig City also implement car-free initiatives every Sunday morning.