| Extracto del fichero OCR | Bicycling
Oakland Is Closing Streets to Most Cars. More Cities Need to Do the Same
Cities, listen up! We need more safe spaces for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians to
socially distance.
By Jessica Coulon, Apr 13, 2020
The city of Oakland, California, is about to get way more cyclist-friendly: Mayor Libby
Schaaf announced on April 9, alongside the city’s Department of Transportation, that
Oakland will see a total of 74 miles of streets closed to through traffic in an effort to give
residents more space to get outside safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Known as Oakland Slow Streets, the project, currently set to run through May 3, kicked off
with four sections of street closures, with many more scheduled to occur over the coming
weeks. The streets impacted will still be open to residential and emergency traffic.
Many of the streets slated for closure follow existing or proposed bike routes, but cyclists
won’t be the only ones to benefit—streets are open to city residents to enjoy walking,
running, and more.
“In this unprecedented moment we must do everything we can to ensure the safety and
well-being of all families across our city,” Schaaf said in the announcement. “Closing roads
means opening up our city. It gives our residents the opportunity to get outside and walk,
bicycle, or run through their neighborhoods and get around in a safer way.”
Oakland has been under a shelter-in-place order since March 31; in order to slow the
spread of COVID-19, residents have been told to stay at home except for performing
certain essential activities, like seeking medical treatment and obtaining groceries. Some
outdoor activities are on that list, too—like walking, running, cycling, etc.—since exercise is
considered important to the overall wellbeing of residents.
But many parks and city sidewalks are experiencing dangerous overcrowding, making that
six-foot rule harder to stick to. As a response to the sudden influx, some cities and states
have closed all local and state parks until further notice, including trails. Oakland and the
rest of the East Bay Regional Park District have only experienced limited park closures so
far, with many more remaining open for use but with closed parking areas. Regardless,
residents are encouraged to stay away from parks that are experiencing crowds, leaving
few outdoor options for city residents—until now.
As with all public activities right now, people are expected to responsibly adhere to social
distancing guidelines while taking advantage of the car-free streets. Oakland health
officials are also recommending that residents wear masks when going outside.
“As a clear reminder, Oakland Slow Streets is intended to promote physical distancing of at
least six feet by creating new low-traffic, low-speed streets to allow residents to safely pass
one another, and creating a safer environment for people walking, wheelchair rolling and
biking,” the city’s statement read.
Oakland isn’t the first city to roll out such a project; Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, New
York City, and Philadelphia have also closed certain streets to car traffic. Oakland Slow
Streets will close far more streets, though—roughly 74 miles—which add up to a
remarkable 10 percent of all streets in the city.
Other cities around the world are implementing similar efforts: Vienna is creating
numerous slow-speed shared streets, Montreal is removing parking spots to create more
room, and Berlin is installing temporary bike bike lanes.
JESSICA COULON Assistant Digital
When she’s not out riding her mountain bike, Jessica reports on news, gear, and all things
cycling related for Bicycling. | |
