Before the advent of the Second Industrial Revolution, cities in Italy, Europe, and the United States were mainly designed for people to give them greater mobility. In the Philippines, Intramuros, also known as the Walled City, is one good example.
As cities modernize, the demand for more walkable spaces got bigger as more people flock to urban centers to work, study and pursue other activities. This gave way to pursuing pedestrianization to make the lives of the people more convenient and safe while moving in the urban areas.
Pedestrianization requires people-centric facilities such as buildings being built and squares being located near each other. I believe pedestrianization plays an important role in attracting tourists to a historical place. I am sure tourists will prefer to walk going to a historical site to appreciate more surroundings and get the vibe of it.
When you talk about pedestrianization in the modern age, I think that you have to take a look at the designs of the past to give you an idea of how they built them.
Right now, modern cities in Italy and the rest of Europe have successfully built people-friendly infrastructures such as covered walkways and underpasses. Italians and Europeans enjoy the setup because it gives them the opportunity to mingle and interact with people. It also gives them an opportunity to pursue a healthy lifestyle by walking, jogging, and biking.
If you have the chance to visit Italy, you will notice that its historical places and tourist spots have a people-centric infrastructure for walking so people can interact and appreciate the overall beauty of the place.
I am a firm believer that establishing a people-centric infrastructure can also boost commerce and encourage entrepreneurs to open coffee shops, restaurants, and other related businesses.
My company Italpinas Development Corp is a firm believer in pedestrianization. We are building a pedestrian strip in Primavera City to enable residents and other people to move easily along the area and at the same time enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
Meanwhile, we will also build a walking path in the Verona Green Apartments so people will just need to walk going to the nearby mall.
I hope emerging cities in the Philippines will understand the importance of pedestrianization and promote it as well. This is a big push for the environment and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
I am happy that Rockwell and other places in Makati City have been off-limits to motor vehicles during weekends to allow people to walk and enjoy moving around meeting friends and trying the different food stalls. For me, this is extremely exciting because it reduces the carbon footprint and encourages socializing with people.
This reminds me of ancient Greece’s agora where people meet there to exchange ideas, services, and goods.
I hope the Philippines will promote pedestrianization so people can have greater mobility and social interaction.
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