The Bacolod City government will launch “Car-Free Sundays” on June 9 at 5:00 a.m., promoting a healthy lifestyle among Bacolodnons.

“You’re all invited. Let’s stay active and fit for a healthier Bacolod,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said in a statement yesterday.

The car-free Sunday is scheduled from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. throughout June, based on the resolution passed by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council.

On these hours, motor vehicles are prohibited along the 1.2-kilometer stretch of Lacson Street, specifically from Ramos North Drive to South Capitol Road.

Any activity that keeps an individual active can be done during the car-free Sunday, Benitez said.

“Run, walk, bike, dance, walk your dog, ride a scooter, or a skateboard. Whatever it is that keeps you active and fit, do it during car-free Sundays,” he added.

An ordinance seeking to institutionalize the car-free Sundays, proposed by Councilor Celia Matea Flor, was passed on first reading during the City Council’s regular session on Wednesday, June 5.

“This initiative aligns with the city’s long-term goals of promoting sustainability, enhancing public spaces, and improving the overall quality of life of its residents,” the resolution stated.

It also said that “creating car-free zones encourages alternative modes of transportation such as walking and biking, which are environmentally friendly and helps reduce the city’s carbon footprints.”

“Other cities around the world have successfully implemented similar car-free initiatives, resulting in positive public health and environmental outcomes,” it added. (PNA)