In the wake of COVID-19, many cities across the U.S. and around the world have turned empty roads into safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, allowing them to maintain social distancing while exercising outdoors. But, by the end of May, 20 miles within Seattle will permanently close to most vehicle traffic. This may seem drastic, especially considering what life looked like just 90 short days ago, but with traffic down 30-50% on many arterials, cities are using this opportunity to eliminate cars, and access to roadways originally created for them.
What is happening isn’t unique to Seattle, or even our country. New York City has plans to close off 40 miles of roads to cars so that people can now use for walking or biking. Members of the Washington, D.C. Council are calling on the mayor to make quick changes to give pedestrians and bikers more space on sidewalks. One member of the council is proposing a permit that district residents can access through the DDOT website that will allow them to request the closing of a street to through traffic, a reduction in travel lanes, or converting a street from a two way to a one way.
European cities – which are further along in reopening – such as Paris, London, and Milan are all enacting similar measures to “pedestrianize” streets once reserved for cars. Milan is enacting one of Europe’s more ambitious plans to reduce the use of the car. The city is converting 22 miles of streets, which will be transformed during the summer. Milan’s plan includes low-cost temporary cycle lanes, new and widened pavements, 20 mph speed limits, and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets.
Couple the long-term need to social distance with the continuing increase in pedestrian deaths, and providing more safe spaces couldn’t come at a better time. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), pedestrian deaths were up 5% in the U.S. in 2019 to 6,590 – the highest number since 1988. The report also notes that pedestrian deaths in California jumped 12% in the first half of last year, well above the national average increase of 3%. California, along with four other states — Texas, Arizona, Florida and Georgia — accounted for 47% of all pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2019.
Given these stats, cities, like Seattle, are looking for ways to prevent fatalities. Removing roadway in urban settings to provide additional safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists seems like a step in the right direction.