As part of the European Mobility Week, on 20 and 21 September, sections of Dzirnavu and Antonijas streets in Riga will be turned into pedestrian streets for two days.
Such initiatives - temporarily closing streets and dedicating them to pedestrians - are taking place in many places across Europe, supporting local businesses and cafés, as well as making urban spaces lively and accessible to residents.
As Marta Kotello, Chairperson of the Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Committee, points out: “In European cities, such initiatives have become an annual tradition, allowing the streets to become a common meeting place and walking area for a moment. By testing temporary pedestrian streets, we can learn and observe how a particular street could become a permanent space for pedestrians and enrich the life of Riga. In the future, we will organise such events more frequently in the streets of neighbourhoods outside the centre of Riga. We will do this in close cooperation with local neighbourhood communities. I invite Riga residents and visitors to take a leisurely stroll through the quiet centre of Riga at the weekend, admire the city's unique architecture and enjoy the hospitality of local businesses.”
The section of Dzirnavu Street from K. Valdemāra to Antonijas Street and the section of Antonijas Street from Elizabetes to Dzirnavu Street will be pedestrian streets from Saturday, 20 September starting from 6:00 until Sunday, 21 September till 17:00.
In order to create pedestrian streets, several street sections will be closed to vehicle traffic and traffic organization changes will take place, which residents and visitors to the city are asked to consider and plan their commute accordingly.
From 19 September starting from 20:00 to 21 September till 17:00, stopping and parking of vehicles will be prohibited (except for vehicles with special passes given by the Riga City Council): Dzirnavu Street from Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street to Antonijas Street; Antonijas Street from Dzirnavu Street to Elizabetes Street; Alberta Street from Strēlnieku Street to Antonijas Street; Zaļā Street from Dzirnavu Street to Emiļa Melngaiļa Street; Emiļa Melngaiļa Street on the even numbered side from Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street to Zaļā Street. Disabled parking will be temporarily moved from Dzirnavu Street to Antonijas Street, while the rest of the street will be accessible as before.
From Friday, 19 September, starting from 20:00, the parking lots of LLC “Rīgas satiksme” on Dzirnavu and Antonijas Streets will be closed, while on Alberta, Zaļā, and E. Melngaiļa Streets, the use of parking spaces by visitors to the city will be restricted, ensuring temporary parking spaces on these streets for local residents. Car passes for owners of private parking spaces on Dzirnavu and Antonijas streets will be available from building managers. Passes will allow parking on Alberta, Zaļā and E. Melngaiļa streets.
To ensure safety and order, traffic on the designated sections will be regulated by the Riga Municipal Police.
The initiative is being implemented during European Mobility Week, which takes place from 16 to 22 September, to promote environmentally friendly travel and draw attention to sustainable mobility and urban environments where people feel safe and free to walk, cycle or use public transport.
This year's European Mobility Week theme is “Mobility for Everyone”, which emphasizes sustainable transportation options for everyone, regardless of income, gender, ability, or place of residence. Riga City Council has set the slogan "Sustainable Mobility: Accessible to Everyone!” for the city's activities, reflecting the city's commitment to greener and more inclusive mobility. Information about European Mobility Week activities in Riga is available on the Riga City Council's website: riga.lv/mobilitate.