Cities Around the World are Restricting Traffic—And Reclaiming Streets for People
May 14, 2020
With states around the country still under stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus, and some areas beginning to reopen at partial capacity, the outdoors is among the only places for nearly millions of Americans to go.
Yet despite the importance of fresh air and exercise, some public spaces have closed, from beaches in Orange and Los Angeles Counties to New Jersey’s state parks (which Gov. Phil Murphy reopened just days ago). As photographs of crowded beaches in Florida and parks in New York City demonstrate, along with images of sidewalks too-narrow to accommodate long lines of people waiting to enter supermarkets, it can be difficult to keep six feet away from others. And with warming temperatures, restrictions beginning to ease, and social distancing guidelines entering their third month, people are only more likely to leave their homes for public parks and streets--especially in cities where private outdoor space, like backyards and roof decks, is a rarity.
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