Car-free days in the Philippines refers to several government and private sector initiatives designating certain areas at specific days or times as car-free to promote gatherings, exercise, and other recreational activities.
History The earliest known example of a car-free area in the country was the pedestrianization of Rizal Avenue from Recto Avenue to Carriedo Street in Santa Mesa in 2003 and the Teresa Street in Santa Mesa in Manila. Both initiatives however, were reversed due to change in administration and traffic complaints, with the Rizal Avenue segment reopening to vehicular traffic in 2007.
On June 3, 2012, the Pasig city government launched a car-free day along F. Ortigas Jr. Road in Ortigas Center, closing the road to motor vehicle traffic on Sunday mornings. The car-free day was suspended during the COVID-19 lockdowns from 2020 to 2021, where it was revived in November 2021 as Open Street Sundays. Since 2021, Pasig has since designated more roads with car-free days, dubbing the program as People's Streets.
In 2013, Filinvest City in Muntinlupa launched its Carless Sundays by closing one lane along Commerce Avenue, Corporate Avenue, Parkway Street, and Filinvest Avenue to traffic on Sunday mornings. This was later on expanded to include Asean Drive, Spectrum Midway, and Promenade Street with a total route of .
In February 2021, the entire 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig was made car-free every weekend.
In September 2023, Ayala Land, the Makati Commercial Estates Association (MaCEA), and the Makati government launched Car Free Sundays at Ayala Avenue, closing most of Ayala Avenue as well as parts of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas around the Ayala Triangle Gardens on Sunday mornings.
In December 2023, car-free days were also initiated by the Greenfield Development Corporation in Greenfield District, with parts of Mayflower Street being closed to traffic on Sunday mornings.
In June 2024, Ayala Land launched Car Free Sundays in both the Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park in Cebu City. Initially planned to run only for the month of June, the initiative was extended in July and remains in effect until further notice. The Bacolod city government also launched its own Car-Free Sundays that month, closing a section of Lacson Street for leisure activities.
In November 2024, Villar City launched its own Car-Free Sundays, which closes a segment of Villar Avenue from Daang Hari to Amore Avenue (Vista Avenue) for walking, running, and cycling on Sunday mornings. A mountain biking trail adjacent to the closed segment was also launched in February 2025. Later that month, the Davao City Council passed an ordinance making the entire Davao City Coastal Road in Davao City as car-free on Sunday mornings. Cycling activities are allowed along the road's northbound lanes, while running, walking, and jogging are allowed along the road's the southbound lanes. Other leisure and fitness activities were then designated at the two parks along the Coastal Road.
In December 2024, following public consultations conducted by Rappler and the Quezon City government in September 2024, the Quezon City Council passed City Ordinance No. SP-3345 S-2024. The ordinance creates a Car-Free, Carefree Sundays initiative along Tomas Morato Avenue and closes the segment from Scout Rallos Street to Don A. Roces Avenue on the first Sunday of each month for activities such as Zumba, jogging, cycling, exercise, and social gatherings. In January 2025, the initiative was expanded to take place on every other Sunday.
In March 2025, Marikina launched its Car-Free Sundays by closing a portion of Gil Fernando Avenue from Bayan-Bayanan Access Road to Guerilla Street and inaugurating a public mural that showcases notable landmarks and personalities, as well as the history and culture of Marikina.
In August 2025, the Butuan City Council passed SP Ordinance No. 17-019-2025, which closes off sections of major roads in Butuan as car-free on Sunday from morning to evening. Dubbed "Ato Ra Kung Domingo" , the initiative aims to promote the reclamation of streets as safe and inclusive dynamic public spaces for recreation and community bonding.
In November 2025, Naga launched its nighttime Carless Sundays along Magsaysay Avenue with fitness activities, street art, and chalk zones. Following the success of its first Carless Sunday, the city government announced that succeeding Sundays will have different events, performances, and activities beyond the car-free section of Magsaysay Avenue.
List Metro Manila Name Year started Organizer Schedule Coverage Length Location+ List of car-free days in Metro Manila Car Free Sundays at Ayala Avenue 2023 Makati Commercial Estates Association and Ayala Land Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am Makati Central Business District, Makati Car-Free Sundays at Mayflower Street 2023 Greenfield Development Corporation Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am Greenfield District, Mandaluyong Car-Free, Care-Free Days 2024 Quezon City Government Every other Sunday of the month, 5:00 am to 10:00 am Diliman, Quezon City Filinvest City Carless Sundays 2013 Filinvest Development Corporation Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 9:00 am Filinvest City, Muntinlupa Marikina Together: Car-Free Sundays 2025 Marikina City Government Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am Santo Niño, Marikina My Street High Street 2021 Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation Every Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
+ List of People's Streets in Pasig Name Year started Organizer Schedule Coverage Length Location Brgy. San Antonio People's Street 2012 Pasig City Government Every Saturday, 6:00 am to Sunday 9:00 pm Ortigas Center, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Bagong Ilog 2022 Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 pm Bagong Ilog, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Kapasigan 2023 Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Kapasigan, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Manggahan 2022 Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Manggahan, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Oranbo 2022 Every Sunday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Oranbo, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. San Nicolas 2022 Every Saturday, 6:00 am to Sunday 9:00 pm San Nicolas (Pob.), Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Sto. Tomas 2022 Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 pm Sto. Tomas, Pasig People's Street sa Brgy. Sumilang 2022 Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Sumilang, Pasig
Name Year started Year ended Organizer Schedule Coverage Length Location+ List of former car-free days in Metro Manila Move Manila Car-Free Sundays By the Bay 2024 2025 Manila City Government Every Sunday, 6:00 am to 10:00 am Ermita and Malate, Manila Weekend Shared Street in Salcedo 2026 2026 Makati Commercial Estates Association and Ayala Land Every Saturday and Sunday in August 2026, all day Makati Central Business District, Makati
Luzon Name Year started Organizer Schedule Coverage Location+ List of car-free days in Luzon Session Road Pedestrianization 2019 Baguio City Government Every Sunday Baguio, Benguet Villar City Car-Free Sundays 2024 Villar Land Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:00 am Villar City, Bacoor, Cavite Car Free Sundays at Vermosa (formerly Vermosa Open Streets) 2025 Ayala Land Every Sunday, schedule varies Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, Imus, Cavite
Visayas Name Year started Organizer Schedule Coverage Location+ List of car-free days in Visayas Car-Free Sundays Bacolod 2024 Bacolod City Government Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 9:00 am Bacolod, Negros Occidental Car Free Sundays at Cebu Business Park 2024 Ayala Land Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:00 am Cebu Business Park, Cebu City Car Free Sundays at Cebu I.T. Park 2024 Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:00 am Cebu IT Park, Cebu City Magsaysay Carless Sundays 2025 Naga City Government Every Sunday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm Naga, Camarines Sur Car-Free Sundays at North Point 2026 Ayala Land Every Sunday, 5:00 am to 10:00 am North Point, Talisay, Negros Occidental
Mindanao Name Year started Organizer Schedule Coverage Location+ List of car-free days in Mindanao Car-Free Sundays at Davao City Coastal Road 2024 Davao City Government Every Sunday, 4:00 am to 8:00 am Davao City Ato Ra Kung Domingo 2025 Butuan City Government Every Sunday Butuan, Agusan del Norte
See also Car-free movement List of pedestrian zones
References