It is high time that Ulica Slobode be permanently turned into a pedestrian zone, according to the Preokret movement.
According to their opinion, the current model according to which the street is open to traffic 24 hours a day has led to the fact that there is no longer a corso in Podgorica, "by which the city was recognized since the end of the Second World War".
They say that the councilors of Preokret in the Assembly of the Capital City will include the issue of turning Slobode Street into a permanent pedestrian zone on the agenda already at the first working session of the local parliament.
"It is incomprehensible why the current administration of the Capital City has opened the entire street to traffic for the past almost a year. If the reason was the reconstruction of Njegoševa Street, then only a part of Ulica Slobode from Bokeška to Bulevar Ivan Crnojević could have been opened, and not the entire Ulica Slobode. Instead for a walk and a pleasant stay, this way the street is only used for transit traffic, whereby the safety of pedestrians has worsened, and the air pollution and noise level have increased, so it is no longer a pleasure to pass through the main street in Podgorica," the announcement states.
The transformation of Freedom Street into a pedestrian zone will, they believe, have a positive effect on numerous aspects.
"First, our fellow citizens will have the opportunity to enjoy walking in the middle of the street, just as it has been the case for decades. Second, citizens living in Ulica slobode will have a much better quality of life, without noise and exhaust gases. Third, it will bring more people to the center, and therefore more traffic to business facilities in the entire city center, especially in Freedom Street itself, which will be much more pleasant than it is now," the announcement states.
They also add that Ulica slobode will be open for delivery vehicles in the morning, in the same way as it is arranged in Bokeška Street, and that for tenants who live in another part of Bokeška Street, there will be free parking spaces in the parking lot behind Bek, which is managed by Parking Service.
"Returning the corso to Podgorica will be one of the priorities of Preokret councilors. We are sure that this initiative will be supported by citizens and other councilors in the future convocation of the Capital City Assembly. It's time for Podgorica to be a pedestrian city again. It's time for a turnaround," said the parties.
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