Rethinking Streets During COVID-19
Although re-allocating space on streets to accomodate new uses is nothing new, the COVID-19 era has made some significant changes in the process. As noted in a new resource, "Rethinking Streets During COVID-19: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Quick Redesigns for Physical Distancing, Public Use, and Spatial Equity," COVID-19 has accelerated the process in which communities make street transitions.
"It didn't take long for many communities to understand that the street is actually a public place and a public good that serves broader public needs more urgent than the free flow or the storage of private vehicles."
This book by Marc Schlossberg, PhD, Rebecca Lewis, PhD, Aliza Whalen, Clare Haley, Danielle Lewis, Natalie Kataoka, and John Larson-Friend captures some of these quick changes to city streets in response to societal needs during COVID-19. It is one of several free books available for download in the Rethinking Streets Book Series, which also includes guides on bike-focused and complete streets transformations.
The first two questions the book asks are:
1) what changes will endure post-COVID?
2) will communities be more open to street reconfigurations, including quick and inexpensive trials, going forward?
Take a look at the examples in this book to find ones that could work in your community. Click here to fill out the form for a copy of Rethinking Streets During Covid-19!