The City Government of Davao urged Dabawenyos to take the scenic route and enjoy the Coastal Road while engaging in an active and healthy lifestyle during Car-free Sundays.
Davao City Sports Development Division Head Michael Denton Aportadera, during the I-Speak Media forum on Thursday, said that the Car-Free Sundays – which starts on December 1, 2024 – is mainly to help Dabawenyos maintain an active lifestyle during a limited time of the day on Sundays from 4 am- 8 am, while taking a scenic route.
“It is actually one of the projects of Mayor [Baste], he intends to encourage everybody to have a healthy lifestyle. We are blessed with a very scenic and very nice length of road beside the coast that we can make sure of,” he said, adding that they were instructed to come up with a program, where the people can freely use the Coastal Road for exercise and leisure activities.
“Mao gyud na ang gusto ni mayor na, every Sunday mapa-condition ang everybody nga ang Coastal Road is open for exercise (It is the will of the mayor that every Sunday the public will get used to the fact that the Coastal Road is open for exercise),” Aportadera added.
With the Car Free Sundays, limited-time road closures will be implemented to give way to the use of the entire stretch of the Coastal Road for cycling and running. The southbound side of the Coastal Road will be used for the cycling, while the northbound side will be used for running, walking, and jogging.
As for the road closures, City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Head Dionisio Abude, during the I-Speak Media Forum, said they will install six big tarpaulins for traffic advisories to inform the public about the closure of the Coastal Road starting December 1 and the succeeding Sundays.
They have identified six areas for the large billboards: Tulip Drive, Bago Aplaya, Talomo, and Punta Dumalag.
On the Coastal Road, they will also place directional signs to guide the public on where the parking lot is. A U-turn slot will likewise be installed.
“Ang dagko nga advisory sign I-install ugma (Friday) and directional signs we will install it by Saturday (The big signs with the advisories will be installed tomorrow (Friday), and the directional signs, we will install it by Saturday), “he said.
Aside from traffic and directional signs, the CTTMO will also partner with the Task Force Davao to monitor if activities for cycling, running, walking, are conducted on the assigned lane.
He revealed that prior to the proposal for the closure of the Coastal Road for Car Free Sundays, they conducted a traffic count study and based on that, they concluded that survey vehicles traversing the Coastal Road can be accommodated on the Matina-Aplaya and McArthur highways from 4 am 8 am.
He said that 10 CTTMO personnel will be dedicated to manage traffic in areas leading to the closed road.
As for the conduct of activities at the designated areas for running and cycling, Aportadera reminded the public to always observe a continuous forward motion to give way to other people seeking to use the road.
No vendors are allowed in the area, so the public are encouraged to bring their own water for hydration.
Skateboards, roller blades/skates, electric scooters are strictly prohibited, however, E-bikes with pedal are allowed.
Aportadera said that no pets will be allowed for now. However, this matter is still subject to further observations and recommendations.
He said that they will check the influx of Dabawenyos that will gather on December 1 and should they see matters to be addressed, they are open to recommendations for improvement.
More instructions and guidelines on the Car Free Sundays are posted on the City Government of Davao Facebook Page. CIO
