March 7, 2011

March 6 was a vehicle-free day in Old San Juan (PR), a first for the city and a first step in remaking Old San Juan to enhance quality of life for residents and its reputation as a world-recognized destination. Founded in 1521, some forty-four years before St. Augustine (FL) in 1565, San Juan is the oldest city in the United States.

The purpose of San Juan’s vehicle-free days is to raise awareness of Old San Juan’s future pedestrianization, an integral part of San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini’s Walkable City master plan, which he proposed and the Puerto Rico Planning Board approved last year. The Walkable City plan will result in traffic-free pedestrian access to the narrow and winding streets and plazas of Old San Juan.

With a comprehensive traffic routing plan by the city and San Juan’s Police Department, the old city was closed to most vehicles from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. to facilitate cultural and arts activities during the day, with vehicle access to Old San Juan limited from the city’s famous Luis Munoz Rivera Park near the entrance to the islet. Traffic patterns for the day-long activity provided access for local residential and business traffic and metropolitan bus service via exclusive dedicated lanes to avoid congestion. Simultaneously, the plan preserved access to signature destination locations in Old San Juan like the Paseo Caribe, the swimming beach at El Escambron and the Caribe Hilton.

In addition to pollution and noise reduction through less vehicle use, the initiative also encourages walking and physical activity. The city has worked with organizations such as the Francisco Rosa Foundation to encourage pedestrian activity and exercise. Pedestrianizing Old San Juan encourages personal interaction with fellow citizens that vehicular traffic prevents. "Oftentimes people do not know their neighbors and this type of event opens a door to that interaction", said San Juan Police Captain Angel Gomez.