There is no other street in Cēsis that has been affected by so many experiments in recent decades as the part of the old town of Rīgas Street. Their goal is always the same – to coordinate different interests: residents of the old town, businessmen and those who want to shop, spend time in cafes or take a walk.
New changes have just come into effect. In order to introduce them, the deputy chairperson of the Cēsis County Council, Inese Suija-Markova, and municipal specialists met with the businessmen of the old town.
Everyone is right
In search of the best solutions, how to revive the old town in the summer, how to encourage citizens and guests to stop by Rīgas Street, several conversations took place. There were different opinions. In order to find out the opinions of residents and businessmen of Riga Street, a survey was conducted. 38 respondents took part in it – 29 entrepreneurs and nine residents. The option that there are no traffic restrictions on Rīgas Street in the summer is supported by 12 people – six businessmen and six residents. Ten participants of the survey believe that it is correct that Riga street is closed for transport from Friday to Sunday, 12 believe that it is more profitable if entry is prohibited from Saturday afternoon to Sunday, but that this could happen only during holidays, according to four respondents.
“The survey shows that 26 businessmen and residents of the old town support the restrictions. “Evaluating last summer, when Rīgas iela was Vasaras iela and entry was prohibited from Friday to Sunday, the opinions of the survey participants are different,” said I. Suija-Markova and introduced some of them. The participants of the survey write: customers cannot drive up, it affects the turnover; liked last summer’s version, it didn’t affect customers; did not like the visual arrangement of the street, it is better to install toilets instead of barriers; delivery problems on Saturdays; the street closure had a big impact. Many have negatively evaluated the ban on turning right at the intersection of Rīga and Gauja streets.
The decision is a compromise
Also this summer, you will not be allowed to enter Rīgas Street in the old town on weekends. “This is a compromise – the street car will be closed on Saturday at 3 p.m., when the shops finish work, and it will be handed over to pedestrians and cyclists until Sunday,” explained I. Suija-Markova and added that the improvement elements will be placed not only on the streets and that the old town is being considered corresponding, uniform waste bins.
Last June, the rules came into force, which forbade turning right at the intersection with Gaujas Street when driving from the Old Town along Rīgas Street. For almost a year, businessmen and other residents, guests of the city, complained about it. “It was a draconian decision to restrict traffic flow in the old city. Cars drive through the old town because it’s a straighter road. Riga Street was chosen to get to Bērzaini from Piebalga Street. It cannot be denied that there are also drivers who circle around looking for a free parking space,” said the deputy chairwoman of the council and emphasized that the traffic flow in the old town should be reduced.
In April, the Traffic Safety Commission changed last year’s decision and admitted that “due to the fact that, by making a decision to ban right turns on Rīgas Street at the intersection with Gaujas Street, the expected result of reducing traffic on Rīgas Street was not achieved, and this decision also made it difficult for the residents of the old town to organize traffic , it was decided to cancel the ban on right turns on Rīgas Street at the intersection with Gaujas Street”.
This news was welcomed, because everyone who lives or works in the old town, or stopped there with a purpose, can tell how, after passing through Rīga Street, they circled around the city to get to where they needed to be. Some have clearly said: “I will pay the fine, turn right, it will be cheaper and faster than driving to the center and turning.” Another, as he himself admitted, threw a lap of honor around the “Maxima” parking lot every morning to drive to Bērzaini.
But next to the good news there is another – good or bad – life will show that. The Traffic Safety Commission has decided to “install a sign of the order ‘Drive on the right’ on Piebalgas Street at the intersection with Valņu Street.” So, when driving along Piebalgas Street, only a right turn is allowed in the direction of Vienības Square. The purpose of the decision is to prevent transit flow through the old town.
“If you need to get to the old town from Piebalgas iela, you can drive along Dārzniecijas iela, making a detour to Valņi iela. It can also go to Berzaini. You can enter the Old Town from Vienības Square, the circle past the church remains, you can enter from Palasta Street along Lielo Katrīnas Street and along Kases Street from Valņu Street. Transit problems start on Piebalgas Street, that’s why such a solution was found,” explained I. Suija-Markova and emphasized that the old town should be accessible, but not a transit road. During the conversation, the entrepreneurs also reminded that many problems in the city would be solved if there was a place to park cars. At the same time, there are establishments where employees leave their cars for the whole day. “We all see that drivers do not observe the parking regime. It is impossible to control all of them, technological solutions will be sought,” said the deputy chairman of the council.
When considering how customers will be able to drive to shops and cafes, businessmen admitted that there will be problems. And with each experiment, it becomes more and more difficult to tell the visitors how to enter the old town on Rīgas Street. I. Suija-Markova admitted that they will think about direction signs so that when driving on Piebalgas Street, it is clear how to get to Gaujas or Rīgas Street.
When the businessmen objected, reminding that it was already clear last year – traffic flow restrictions are disturbing the shops, but they were not listened to, now the next changes will make the old town even more crowded. I. Suija-Markova reminded that a self-centered philosophy when thinking about the old city is not suitable. Egils Kurpnieks, deputy head of the municipality’s Property Management Department, head of the Territory and Infrastructure Management Department of Cēsi City and Vaive Parish, says that when going shopping to “Alfa”, no one thinks that they will be able to drive directly to the store where they want to shop. “The buyer is ready to go. Buyers’ shopping habits are changing, you have to take that into account,” emphasized E. Kurpnieks.
It is an undeniable fact that several businessmen have left Riga Street, some are still looking for rental premises elsewhere. Shopkeepers clearly say: “If you were to choose a place for business now, it would definitely not be the old town.” Cafes work for a year, close, but at least others take their place, while if shops move elsewhere, the premises remain empty. The participants of the meeting exchanged views on both the high rents and the empty buildings. “In the old town, 98 percent of the properties belong to private individuals. There is a lack of ideas on how to use the properties, the municipality cannot influence the fact that they keep empty premises,” admitted I. Suija-Markova and said that they are thinking about Roži Square, how to make it more attractive. Repair of the fountain is planned for this summer, and there is also a plan to green it. “There are good reviews about Vienības square, it has become attractive for residents, drivers can easily get around and get where they need to go. Plantings could also be placed along the edge of the street in Rožu Square, but during events, if necessary, they could be moved elsewhere.”
Zane Neimane, head of the Culture Department of the Cēsi region municipality, presented the Rožu laukuma planned for the summer. There will be an event for families with children, an opening concert of the season, a Midsummer market, an open-air cinema, a concert of moods and feelings one evening every month and other events on Saturdays.
Lost in thought, the businessmen went home. Time will tell what this summer will be like for the entrepreneurs of the old town. Also how satisfied motorists will be with the new traffic restrictions.
Listened. The municipality listened to the residents, and now, when leaving the old town along Rīgas Street, you can turn right again.
