Closure of streets in the capital
According to an article on KuwaitNews.com, the municipality is going to be closing down some streets in the city and opening them up to pedestrians. The municipality is hoping to make the city a nicer place by doing so. They will be closing down Abdullah Al-Salem Street which is the one next to Liberation Tower as well as Palestine Street which is near Safat Square and the old souk. Both streets will be opened up to pedestrians from the first of November.
Although I find it a bit strange they’re closing down those two streets specifically, I do hope this experiment becomes a success since I want them to do the same to Salem Mubarek Street. Now that’s a street that would make more sense open only to pedestrians. Here is the link to the article [Link]
Thanks Ads2Blog
Update: Looks like it’s not the main Abdullah Al-Salem Street but the smaller branch of it on the opposite side of Safat Square (pictured above). It seems they’re closing the streets in and around the old souk which makes a lot more sense. I’ve highlighted in red on the map below what I understood are the streets they’re closing.
Thanks Barrak
Unlike the west, walking around isn’t really a part of the culture here. Mostly because of the weather. And lets face it, laziness. Why walk when I can drive. This will end with the place mostly being used by people who don’t really have a vehicle and their only means of getting around is on foot.
No, your way of thinking is lazy, not people.
Sure, nobody is willing to walk in the summer just as nobody is willing to walk in the winter in Scandinavia but that doesn’t mean we restrict all means of transport to cars.
If we only build roads then we shouldn’t be surprised that all we see are cars and no people walking. That isn’t a reflection of the laziness of people or the punishing heat, but of a lack of options in infrastructure.
You walk in malls, even outdoor shopping areas like Marina crescent. People walk in Salmiya and Hawalli. I think the area around Safat Square is a great place to start this experiment. I’m willing to bet that it will be a huge and surprising success and replicated elsewhere soon enough.
More thoughts about walking in Kuwait:
Heat and climate: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/climate-in-kuwait/
Walking in Kuwait: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/walking-in-kuwait/
Thoughts on streets: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/streets/
Maybe it should be pedestrian only during winter?: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/sam-street-winter-only/
What we could do to replace the streets: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/gubei-gold-street/
A more extreme project that might be relevant for the 1st Ring Road: http://rekuwait.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/taking-over-freeways/
(sorry for the link spam Mark, but this post is tailor made and i’m already writing something about the Safat project)
Nice posts. Good to to see you were ahead of the curve on this
Walking is not part of the culture? The heck are you talking about? Kuwaitis are originally nomadic people.
Abdulla Al salem street is a very busy street during the weekdays and its the exit from downtown to some major highways…I doubt that would work!!
I don’t think that’s the one they’re talking about. I’m pretty sure what they’re going to close are the small streets around and inside the old souq and leading into Safat square. Not the big street right next to Liberation Tower.
This one: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/28343487.jpg
(Just noticed the image on this post, which is a little misleading)
Thanks!! Ya this one does make more sense as there are often more pedestrians here and the street is always a mess with more and more cars around.. They did also close Gharbally Street which I think was a great idea. It looks beautiful…
Well I think this will increase traffic unless they build a tram or something to move faster around the city
RIP Steve Jobs:(
dayman ray7a 3leena el falasteneyyeh looooooooooool
am kidding of course, am with positive changes
It’s about time they did this. They should extend it to other areas like old Salmiya.