Over 5,000 turn up at Joo Chiat Road on Oct 3 as it closes to traffic on World Car-Free Day

People filling the streets at the Joo Chiat Car-Free Day on Oct 3, 2026.

Published Oct 03, 2026, 09:32 PM

Updated Oct 03, 2026, 09:32 PM

Over 5,000 people visited the half-kilometre car-free area at Joo Chiat Road on World Car-Free Day, enjoying shops, food, and activities in a vibrant atmosphere.

This event marked the first car-free zone outside Singapore's CBD, promoting sustainable travel and showcasing Joo Chiat’s cultural and community appeal.

Organisers and visitors praised the turnout and variety of attractions.

SINGAPORE - Crowds descended on a half-kilometre car-free stretch of the heritage area at Joo Chiat Road, on Oct 3, to mark World Car-Free Day .

From 3.30pm to 9.30pm, the area between Dunman Road and East Coast Road was temporarily closed to traffic, as an endless stream of tourists and locals contributed to a carnival atmosphere as they forgot about the haze.

Over 5,000 people turned up, some with their children or bicycles in tow, checking out around 90 merchants who set up shop along the road.

This was the first time an area outside the Central Business District (CBD) was off-limits to cars and other vehicles for World Car-Free Day, an annual event which encourages people across the globe to explore more sustainable ways of commuting .

Minister of State for Transport, and Culture, Community and Youth, Baey Yam Keng, mingled with the crowd and said walking and cycling allows people to discover familiar and new neighbourhoods.

He said: “We hope that people will also explore different parts of Singapore.”

Goh Pei Ming, MP for Marine Parade GRC, also popped by and called it a very special milestone for the constituency. He described Joo Chiat as a vibrant community with many arts and culture, and food and beverage options.

Goh, who is also Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development, said: “There’s almost always a hidden gem right around the corner. And if you are able to slow it down and bring the people through... we’re probably able to let our residents, and visitors explore the unique proposition that Joo Chiat has to offer.”

In 2025, British media group Time Out named Joo Chiat Road as among the top 15 coolest streets in the world.

The area pulled out all the stops for the inaugural event. The 530m stretch was split into multiple zones, as auxiliary police officers guarded the barricaded areas to ensure safety.

Booths with hands-on activities for kids, pet grooming services , and various food options were located along the rows of shophouses at Joo Chiat Road, which links to smaller roads like Marshall Lane and Duku Road.

There was also live music, a cafe-and-bar discovery trail, and even a boxing ring showcasing championship bouts.

Hannah James, Katong-Joo Chiat Business Association’s head of placemaking, was glad the occasion increased visibility for some business owners, such as yoga studios tucked into the second floor of shophouses. Some streetside yoga classes were fully booked, she said.

James, a design director at Aspex of Design in Joo Chiat, added: “Everyone’s amazed by the turnout. They’re asking if it can be an annual event.”

Gallery+ Katong, an artisan gallery selling locally designed products which opened a year ago, was packed barely an hour into the event.

Ng Hwee Hong, the co-owner of Soap Craft Singapore which runs the gallery, said publicity is especially important for them, as they partner small businesses and local artisans to raise the profile of Singaporean brands.

She said: “The vibe is very good. It’s different from the usual weekend crowd. People from all over the island are here.”

An unexpected attraction came in the form of Matthew Koh, 59, who brought his 14-year-old long-haired dachshund Max around in a “pet taxi”.

It was repurposed from a children’s walker and attached to his bicycle . Pedestrians stopped to snap photos of both of them .

Koh, a project manager at an interior design and renovation company, said he had attended previous car-free days at the CBD as he enjoyed cycling freely on the roads. On Oct 3, he had biked half an hour from Serangoon via the park connector network to reach Joo Chiat.

Natalie Tan, 27, a copywriter at an advertising agency, came after hearing about the event on TikTok. She bought banana pudding from iconic Katong cake shop Dona Manis and explored the stretch of shops.

Tan hopes the car-free concept can be replicated in Orchard or Marina Bay in the future.

Looking at the crowds, she said : “Because we have so few activities like this one , everyone wants to come. It makes it very lively.”

Christine Tan is a correspondent at The Straits Times reporting on social affairs and issues of justice in Singapore.

Car-Free Sunday/initiatives

2026年10月3日，如切无车日，街道上人山人海。

发布于 2026 年 10 月 3 日晚上 9:32

更新于2026年10月3日晚上9:32

在世界无车日当天，超过 5000 人参观了如切路 (Joo Chiat Road) 长达半公里的无车区，在充满活力的氛围中享受了商店、美食和各种活动。

此次活动标志着新加坡中央商务区以外首个无车区的设立，旨在推广可持续出行方式，并展现如切的文化和社区魅力。

组织者和游客都对参与人数和景点的多样性表示赞赏。

新加坡——10 月 3 日，大批民众涌向如切路历史街区一段长达半公里的无车路段，以庆祝世界无车日。

从下午 3 点 30 分到晚上 9 点 30 分，敦曼路和东海岸路之间的区域暂时禁止车辆通行，络绎不绝的游客和当地居民营造出嘉年华般的氛围，忘记了雾霾的存在。

超过 5000 人前来参观，其中一些人还带着孩子或自行车，他们逛了沿路摆摊的约 90 家商户。

这是世界无车日（一项旨在鼓励全球人民探索更可持续的通勤方式的年度活动）首次在中央商务区 (CBD) 以外的地区禁止汽车和其他车辆通行。

交通、文化、社区及青年部政务部长白炎庆与人群互动，表示步行和骑自行车能让人们发现熟悉和新的街区。

他说：“我们希望人们也能探索新加坡的不同地区。”

马林百列集选区议员吴培明也到场祝贺，并称这是该选区一个非常重要的里程碑。他形容如切是一个充满活力的社区，拥有丰富的艺术文化、美食和饮品选择。

吴作栋（同时也是社会及家庭发展部高级政务部长）表示：“几乎每个角落都隐藏着一颗璀璨的明珠。如果我们能够放慢脚步，引导人们去发现……我们或许就能让居民和游客探索如切地区独有的魅力。”

2025年，英国媒体集团Time Out将如切路评为全球15条最酷街道之一。

为了举办首届活动，当地政府可谓是煞费苦心。530米长的赛道被划分成多个区域，辅警人员在路障区域执勤，确保安全。

在如切路（Joo Chiat Road）沿街的店屋里，设有各种摊位，提供儿童互动活动、宠物美容服务和各种美食选择。如切路与马歇尔巷（Marshall Lane）和杜库路（Duku Road）等较小的道路相连。

现场还有音乐表演、咖啡馆和酒吧探索路线，甚至还有一个拳击台，用于举办冠军赛。

加东-如切商业协会的场所营造负责人汉娜·詹姆斯表示，她很高兴这次活动提高了部分商家的知名度，例如那些位于店屋二楼的瑜伽工作室。她说，一些街边瑜伽课程都已报满。

位于如切的 Aspex of Design 设计总监 James 补充道：“每个人都对到场人数感到惊讶。他们都在问这是否可以成为一项年度活动。”

Gallery+ Katong 是一家销售本地设计产品的艺术画廊，于一年前开业，活动开始不到一个小时就座无虚席。

经营该画廊的 Soap Craft Singapore 的共同所有人 Ng Hwee Hong 表示，宣传对他们来说尤其重要，因为他们与小型企业和当地工匠合作，以提高新加坡品牌的知名度。

她说：“气氛非常好。这和通常周末的人潮不一样。岛上各地的人都来了。”

一位名叫 Matthew Koh 的 59 岁男士意外地吸引了人们的目光，他带着自己 14 岁的长毛腊肠犬 Max，乘坐“宠物出租车”四处游览。

那东西是由儿童学步车改造而成，并安装在了他的自行车上。行人纷纷驻足拍照。

Koh是一家室内设计和装修公司的项目经理，他说他之前曾多次参加中央商务区的无车日活动，因为他喜欢在路上自由骑行。10月3日，他从实龙岗出发，沿着公园连道骑行半小时到达如切。

27岁的娜塔莉·谭（Natalie Tan）是一家广告公司的文案撰稿人，她在TikTok上看到活动信息后前来参加。她从加东标志性的蛋糕店Dona Manis买了香蕉布丁，然后逛了逛这条街上的商店。

谭先生希望未来乌节路或滨海湾也能推广无车理念。

看着熙熙攘攘的人群，她说：“因为像这样的活动很少，所以大家都想来。这让这里非常热闹。”

克里斯汀·谭是《海峡时报》的记者，报道新加坡的社会事务和司法问题。

无车星期日/倡议