The Liberdade neighborhood, in the central region of São Paulo, will begin testing the Open Streets (Ruas Abertas) program this Sunday (1st). Similar to what has been done on Paulista Avenue since 2016, four streets in the area will be open exclusively to pedestrians from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
Led by the Municipal Department of Urban Development and Licensing, the initiative aims to prioritize the use of urban space based on pedestrian needs. “The goal is to foster conditions that encourage people to linger, improve walkability, and strengthen the area as a tourist and commercial attraction,” the São Paulo city government stated in a press release.
The project will be rolled out in a two-stage experimental pilot phase. The first phase consists of opening streets to pedestrians with the support of the Traffic Engineering Company (CET) to monitor vehicle traffic. The second phase, currently under development, involves permanent physical interventions to “expand spaces for gathering and leisure, strengthen local commerce, and reduce environmental impact,” according to the administration.
Walking can help prevent and alleviate symptoms of diseases. It is a free physical activity that can be done anywhere. For some, it is a means of transportation to get around during the day. For others, it is a hobby for exploring an unfamiliar neighborhood on the weekend. However, for walking to be an enjoyable experience, adequate infrastructure is required to make cities more pleasant to walk in.
“Valuing the human scale and the status of people as pedestrians is a prerequisite for urban sustainability and the health on (and of) our planet. The act of walking brings independence and mobility to individuals of all ages, while contributing to socialization and promoting cleaner urban environments,” states Karin Regina in the introduction of the urban design guidebook for improving walkability for the elderly – download here.
Liberdade Open Streets
Four streets in the Liberdade neighborhood will be open to pedestrians on Sundays and holidays, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are: Rua dos Estudantes (between Av. da Liberdade and Rua da Glória), Rua dos Aflitos, Rua Américo de Campos (between Rua Galvão Bueno and Rua da Glória), and Rua Galvão Bueno (between Rua Américo de Campos and Praça da Liberdade).
The Traffic Engineering Company (CET) will monitor the closures and direct traffic in the area.
Via CicloVivo.
This article was written by Marcia Sousa. The translation is powered by AI.
