Plans for more car-free weekends around Singapore

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Back to basics

Authorities are planning for more car-free weekends around Singapore by closing off roads on a more regular basis in areas like Haji Lane in Kampong Glam and at Club Street / Ann Siang Road in Chinatown.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed this in his latest blog post.

He said one indicator of liveability in a city is the extent in which its dwellers embrace car-free zones.

Mr Khaw spoke about how many big cities have made a conscious decision to be more pedestrian-friendly - for example, in New York's Times Square, London's Trafalgar Square and Tokyo's "Pedestrian Haven" in Ginza.

In Singapore, Mr Khaw pointed to several examples such as Albert Mall, and more recently, the Samsara Sunday Fair held at Haji Lane.

He said organisers had pushed for road closure at Haji Lane from 12am to 5pm, and took care of all the logistics, from the design of banners to crowd control measures.

Visitors, he noted, had a great time, enjoying the many outdoor activities like hand painting and juggling performances. And, they did not have to watch out for traffic.