Without Cars: Which Streets in Riga Could Soon Become Pedestrian-Only?

A survey conducted at the end of the year by the SKDS research center revealed that declared residents of Riga aged 18 to 75 positively assess the innovations introduced this year in traffic organization, including pedestrian streets and night public transport.

Overall, 76% of respondents support the creation of pedestrian streets. The majority of those surveyed, about one-third, believe that Terbatas Street is suitable for conversion into a pedestrian street. Slightly fewer participants in the survey advocate for Gertrudes, Antonijas, and Dzirnavu Streets to be designated exclusively for pedestrians.

This year, as part of European Mobility Week, temporary pedestrian streets included a section of Dzirnavu Street from Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street to Antonijas Street and a section of Antonijas Street from Dzirnavu to Elizabetes Street. For two days, traffic was closed on these segments, and the street space was given to the residents and guests of Riga.

"Having received several positive reviews, we plan to develop and implement periodic traffic closures on Antonijas Street next year," adds Marta Kotello, Chair of the Riga City Council Committee on Transport and Communications. "The survey results show that support for the creation of pedestrian streets is high and that the tested solutions have potential. Unfortunately, after the temporary transformation of Terbatas Street into a pedestrian street in the summer of 2020, there have been no significant steps forward. Therefore, it is important for me that next year we work specifically on creating a route for pedestrian streets and its gradual implementation both in the center of Riga and in the neighborhoods. Riga deserves this!"

The introduction of night public transport and its provision in Riga during nighttime hours is also supported by almost all respondents—80%, indicating high public approval and notable consensus on this issue.

This year, night transport in Riga was implemented as part of a pilot project, with funding allocated from the existing budget. It is worth noting that night transport operated on three routes: N1 "Center – Teika – Jugla – Mežciems"; N4 "Center – Agenskalns – Zolitūde – Imanta"; N6 "Center – Purvciems – Plavnieki – Dārziems."