Just as it had been announced, the National Institute of Traffic and Ground Transportation (Intrant) closed down over the weekend a section of Gustavo Mejia Ricart Avenue in the National District to promote alternative means of transportation “that are more sustainable.” At 7:45pm, the stretch of the Avenue between Lope de Vega and Tiradentes (East-West) was closed to vehicle traffic. A 911 service ambulance was on call and members of the traffic police from Intrant were on duty at both ends of this stretch of the Avenue. Some of the establishments along the short route set out chairs and tables to serve the pedestrians and a few people, very few, rode their bicycles.
A number of people questioned by reporters from the Diario Libre seemed to be pleased with the initiative. However, restaurant employees interviewed on the row complained that the lack of parking would seriously affect their businesses and therefore they would receive far fewer tips. The experiment began on Friday evening and ended at 2am on Sunday, 30 September 2018.
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Diario Libre
1 October 2018
