The government plans to pedestrianise the “Old Taipa” area again during the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, which begins on January 29, with the view of enhancing public safety and improving the travel experience for residents and visitors alike, according to a statement on Friday.
The statement did not say how long the pedestrianisation was slated to last.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, the government anticipates a large flow of people and vehicles in the “Old Taipa” area. On Friday, representatives from the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), Transport Bureau, Public Security Police (PSP), Macau Government Tourism Bureau (MGTO), Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) co-hosted a meeting with community groups to discuss the establishment of temporary pedestrian zones during the festive period, the statement noted.
During the meeting, participants addressed various topics, including transportation logistics, passenger flow management, road signage, public health measures, and district activities, aiming to strike a balance between the needs of all participants by refining arrangements to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and vehicles, while also enriching the tourism experience and stimulating local consumption by offering various entertainment programmes during the CNY holiday, the statement said.
If the plan gets off the ground this CNY holiday, it will be the third time that the government will have pedestrianised the “Old Taipa” area, i.e., the junction of Rua de Fernão Mendes Pinto and Rua do Supico, the junction of Rua Correia da Silva and Rua Governador Tamagnini Barbosa, as well as the section between Calçada do Quartel and Avenida de Carlos da Maia.
Chan Ka Leong, chairman of the Macau Federation of Neighbourhood Associations (commonly known as Kai Fong in Cantonese) underlined, as quoted by the statement, that the pedestrianisation zone is aimed to provide residents and visitors alike with a safe and comfortable travel environment. Chan said he also hoped that the government would further optimise supportive facilities and enhance public outreach efforts during the CNY festivities.
This undated file photo provided by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Public Security Police (PSP), Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) shows visitors walking around the “Old Taipa” pedestrian area during last year’s Chinese New Year holiday.
