BY: JESSICA BEUKER
Congestion of central areas in many large cities is a rising issue. Vehicles are packed like sardines, making travel slow and dangerous, while pedestrians are made to inhale the fumes of thousands of gas-guzzling cars. In many places, cycling isn’t even an option because of the traffic-choked roadways. In an effort to combat this, many cities have been experimenting with car-free days. Singapore, London and Stockholm have even begun implementing charges for cars coming into the city centre. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, has taken the effort even further by declaring its Central Business District a car-free zone – permanently.
What was once an aggressively crowded area is now an empty, peaceful space for pedestrians and cyclists. The city plans to expand the car-free zone once it has completed new infrastructure for the zone, which includes security booths, public restrooms and street furniture. Plans also include bicycle lanes and bike parking. Within the zones there will be rest posts with free WiFi services.
One issue with the plans is that businesses along the closed area have had trouble adapting and some have reported decreases in income, according to Inhabitat. Alphonse Nkurunziza, Kigali’s city engineer, has been encouraging business owners to embrace modern forms of shopping, including offering online ordering and delivery. On the other end, artists and other creatives are enjoying the empty space, setting up mini galleries along the road and hosting parties in the street.
The city will continue to make other congested areas into car-free zones as well. According to PR Newswire, in preparation over the past few years, all buildings have been required to have underground parking so that the streets remain car-free. People who used to drive into the city centre will be able to ride their bicycles instead. An exception to the no-car rule will be made for special services vehicles such as ambulances.
The decision to go car-free comes out of the desire to maintain green transport and sustainability of the city, as well as to promote a healthier lifestyle. Nkurunziza told the New Times: “Walking and riding bicycles will also help people to keep healthy rather than spending so much time in offices and then drive cars home; practically that is not a healthy lifestyle.”
Image sourcing: kigalitoday.com, newtimes.co.rw, sunsafaris.com
