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Keong Saik St, Armenian St could go car-free on weekends: Lawrence Wong

SINGAPORE — Keong Saik Street and Armenian Street could be next on the list to be turned into regular car-free zones on weekends.

Ann Siang Hill is one of the places in Singapore that has enjoyed car-free streets. Photo: URA

Ann Siang Hill is one of the places in Singapore that has enjoyed car-free streets. Photo: URA

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SINGAPORE — Keong Saik Street and Armenian Street could be next on the list to be turned into regular car-free zones on weekends.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said this yesterday (Jan 30), adding that authorities are looking into the possibility as part of a push to become a car-lite city.

Mr Wong was speaking after a visit to car-free streets in Kampong Glam, as well as Liang Seah Street in Bugis. They are among 11 streets that are currently car-free on weekends.

Mr Wong said it is hoped more of such regular car-free zones will pop up. He added that this an initiative authorities want to give more of a push — which is why it has decided to close roads in the Civic District and CBD on the last Sunday of each month starting from Feb 28, as part of a six-month pilot called Car Free Sunday.

“We do have to make a national shift, a cultural shift - and it’s not just about becoming a more environmentally-friendly environment, but it’s fundamentally about becoming a more attractive, more livable, and more people-friendly city. If you look around the world - many of the great cities of the world are defined by what happens at the street level. It’s about the street life, the human activity, and it’s about public spaces for people to enjoy.”

Mr Wong added that this is something his ministry is mindful of.

“We are thinking of how we can do better in this area - be it in the way we design our new housing estates, or in terms of thinking of new developments for the city,” he said, noting that this is a complex issue that also requires ground-up support.

For now, pedestrianising of streets usually takes place in and around the city. But the ministry hopes that people who come here will see how going car-free can make an area much more vibrant, and in turn be inspired to push for similar car-free weekends in the heartlands. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

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