COVID-19: Social Distancing

PUBLISHED: 04/21/2020 Strolling down the sidewalk has never been so complicated since we entered the physical distancing world of COVID-19. Canada has been locked down for about a month now as the country grapples with the pandemic. We are told to stay home except for essentials, yet many would like to get out for some fresh air, and a little exercise. The problem is if you live in a densely populated area like downtown, there isn’t enough room for people to physical distance in such close quarters. Cities have been patchwork in their approach to offering more by closing some streets to cars so pedestrians have more room. While Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver have closed roads for pedestrians to have more room, Ottawa has been reluctant to do so. It seems municipalities across the country are wrestling with how to approach the closure of roads with some leading, others following and then others not doing anything at all. ———————————— GUESTS: Sarah Hoyles - Executive Director of Paths for People https://pathsforpeople.org/who-we-are/staff-board/ Shawn Menard - Ottawa City Councillor for Capital Ward https://www.shawnmenard.ca/ Andrew Knack - Edmonton City Councillor for Ward 1 edmonton.ca/city_government/city_organization/ward-1-councillor.aspx ———————————— REFERENCES: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/road-closures-and-one-way-sidewalks-cities-adapt-to-physical-distancing-1.4894067 https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/city-has-no-plans-to-close-roads-for-pedestrians-cyclists-during-covid-19-pandemic-1.4885252 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-rush-hour-traffic-plummets-as-people-respond-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/ https://theprovince.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-exercise-in-the-time-of-covid-19-lets-open-more-roads-to-pedestrians/wcm/59abb8dc-c1a4-41ff-bdca-b86ac488fdd2 https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/03/31/ten-nacto-endorsed-ways-every-city-should-respond-to-covid-19-on-its-streets/ https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/covid-19-stanley-park-crowds-prompt-road-closures/ https://globalnews.ca/news/6744420/road-closures-calgary-cyclists-pedestrians-social-distancing-coronavirus/ https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/covid-19-city-making-more-room-for-pedestrians-eliminating-beg-buttons-at-56-intersections/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-closes-lanes-of-some-roadways-coronavirus-1.5526491 https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/saskatoon-not-expected-to-turn-streets-over-to-pedestrians-cyclists/wcm/2385c2b5-a8b1-4b63-8762-ce10db230ad8 https://globalnews.ca/news/6820441/coronavirus-ottawa-roads-open-to-pedestrians/ https://globalnews.ca/news/6820441/coronavirus-ottawa-roads-open-to-pedestrians/ https://ottawasun.com/news/local-news/councillor-gets-creative-with-local-only-traffic-to-create-more-pedestrian-space-during-physical-distancing/wcm/5d9efa1b-4d39-4cda-a931-4535fd4f902e https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-gatineau-traffic-april-15-2020-1.5532708 https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/covid-19-city-hall-tightens-rules-on-bridges-sidewalks-to-promote-social-distancing https://www.iheartradio.ca/580-cfra/news/city-has-no-plans-to-close-roads-for-pedestrians-cyclists-during-covid-19-pandemic-1.11656096