Physical Distancing and City Road Space
During lockdown it has been a joy to walk and cycle on our empty streets. As we enter our second period of lockdown there are certainly more cars appearing on the streets and often a number of them travelling at excessive speeds. Before we clog our lovely Salisbury city centre up with traffic again it may be time to reflect on the tranquility and safety that those quiet streets are currently providing. More families are walking and cycling, often with very small children travelling on their own bikes. This really does enhance our city, provide independence for those children and is enabling those families to interact in way that they did not before. Below is a list of articles that indicate that this open space in our city centres is what people need to be able to physically distance safely. Our narrow streets would enable our restaurants and bars to provide space on the pavements and roads in which our residents could physically distance from one another and enable those businesses to generate an income that has been absent during lock down.
The World Health Organization says cycling and walking are among the best ways to practise physical distancing.
As lockdown ends people will start to repopulate our city centre. However. many may not wish to use public transport, therefore, if we are to protect our streets from being saturated by private vehicles then we need to make some tough decisions now. Park and Ride needs to be supported and our community needs to be encourages to park at the park and ride and not in the city centre. This must mean an end to free parking in the city centre to maximise use of the park and ride.
The government recently announced a minor relaxation of traffic regulation orders (TRO) allowing local authorities to close roads without the need to advertise measures in local media.
COGS would like to see Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, Salisbury BID, John Glen MP and other groups working together to ensure that physical distancing can be maintained and to ensure that our city streets do not become congested leading to risks to our residents. We ask our city leaders to investigate the possibility of creating temporary cycle paths to enable riders and walkers to better adhere to social distancing advice.
Below are a number of articles that illustrate why our city centres need to change and prioritise streets for pedestrians and cyclists.
Experts urge councils to reallocate roads and prevent congestion when restrictions are lifted - Laura Laker, The Guardian 28th April 2020
Cycling Uk has indicated that empty spaces freed up by the reduction in traffic during lockdown has encouraged more families around the world to use cycling as their daily form of exercise. It is in cities such as Paris, where previously there was so little space that many innovative urban transport solutions are being trialled and bicycle use is being encouraged.