First car-free Sunday to take place in CBD on Feb 28

SINGAPORE - Singapore's first car-free Sunday will take place in the civic and central business districts on Feb 28, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Tuesday.

From 7am to 9am, the roads around the Padang - St Andrew's Road, Stamford Road and Connaught Drive - together with Fullerton Road will be fully closed to vehicles. Shenton Way and Robinson Road will be partially closed during the same period. The road closures will make way for a 4.7km running and cycling route.

St Andrew's Road and part of Stamford Road will remain closed until 12pm while Connaught Drive will remain closed until 7pm.

Organised by URA, Land Transport Authority (LTA), National Parks Board (NParks), National Arts Council (NAC), Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), car-free Sundays will take place in the civic district every last Sunday of the month for six months.

On Feb 28, participants can cycle on their own bicycles or rent a bike from Car-Free Sunday SG's partner bicycle rental companies and collect the bicycles at Connaught Drive. The event will be a good opportunity for amateur cyclists to test out cycling as a means of commuting by joining experienced cyclists from cyclist interest group Love Cycling SG, URA added.

Public activities will be held at the various public spaces including Empress Lawn (in front of Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall), Esplanade Park and along Connaught Drive which were recently completed as part of URA's enhancement of the civic district.

The activities will include a guided tour, sketching for children, street performances, and sports such as three-a-side basketball, mini tennis and football. There will also be a breakfast session at Empress Lawn and food trucks by The Travelling C.O.W and Coffee Bandits along Connaught Drive.

The National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall will also be opened to visitors earlier at 9am on the day of the event.

NParks will also be holding "Satay Night Live" at Empress Lawn on Feb 27. Local food will be available from 6pm to 10.30pm as local bands Jack & Rai and Jive Talkin perform requested songs.