I hope this finds you healthy, with your family, and perhaps even thriving during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Spring Break 2020 will probably be memorable for what does NOT happen and where you DON’T go. But hopefully there are ways for you to enjoy your surroundings, get outside for a bike ride, and enjoy some cleaner air in your community.
COVID-19 has been the ultimate disrupter, upending just about every aspect of our lives and making this event deeply personal for everyone. This week I’d like to focus on the impact of the coronavirus disruption by looking at two positive developments — emergence of bike networks on existing city infrastructure, and the decrease of pollution where communities have been closed down and quarantined.
Transition to Alternate Transportation
As we discussed last week, New York City is adding more space for cyclists and bike delivery, to support the sudden shift to small individual transport modes on their streets. Bogotá, Colombia has added 76 kilometers of cycle lanes practically overnight to accommodate more riders and social distancing. Cities such as Mexico City and London are seeing the benefits of many years spent growing their cycling networks and are moving to make temporary cycling measures permanent. Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Calgary, and Minneapolis have prohibited cars on certain streets. Anecdotally, there are stories everywhere of people switching from transit trips to cycling and e-scooters, where these modes are available.
During our global pandemic, cities around the world have recognized it makes sense to take road space that is usually used for moving and storing cars and instead give it to people. They’re reallocating the right-of-way from travel lanes and parking to create emergency bikeways for essential workers, and open space where residents can safely walk, bike, and exercise, with sufficient room for “social distancing.”
Unfortunately, Chicago has moved in the opposite direction. Last week the mayor closed the city’s most important routes for car-free transportation and recreation because of overcrowding and failure of citizens to practice social distancing. Rather than alleviating the pressure of new bikers by establishing protected bike lanes on streets, Chicago opted to close some of the most important bicycle arteries of the city.
Pollution
Early in March, NASA released these dramatic images over China that showed significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the Wuhan lockdown. This drop in local pollution is mainly due to shuttering of factories and residents sheltering in place as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.
In Italy, the Lombardy region of the north is known as one of the most polluted areas in Europe in terms of air quality. Now that Italy is on national lockdown, the highly industrialized region of Lombardy has seen a drastic improvement in air quality. Allowing for meteorological factors, the reduction is a direct consequence of the reduced traffic and economic activity in the region.
Environmental Impact of Coronavirus Should be Made Permanent
It appears that a drastic reduction in economic activity and vehicular traffic can lead to an immediate improvement in air quality. What is encouraging is that municipalities can see a result in their greening efforts in days, not months or years. While halting economic activity and limiting transportation are not sustainable or viable solutions, it is worth considering how to conduct business in a way that is more balanced with the environment, and ultimately, with our health.
So what happens when the pandemic eventually passes? Do these changes in our national fabric become a side-note like the tin and rubber collectors of World War II? Many, if not most, people will eventually return to public transit and driving to work if the infrastructure remains the same. Cities and communities have an opportunity now to make permanent some COVID-19 mititigation measures that encourage biking, micromobility, bicycle delivery, and traffic calming techniques. Think about it. If we all adopted a greener way of doing business, almost paradoxically, the better air quality might allow our bodies to be stronger and potentially be more efficient at battling unwarranted respiratory viruses like COVID-19.
Shellback6 is GrüneStrasse’s regular blog contribution to the Bike to Work and Alternative Transportation Movement. Comments, suggestions, and dissenting points of view welcome!
Drug Interactions With Zithromax Weptenenia [url=https://bansocialism.com/]cialis super active[/url] emetagrath Inhouse Pharmacy Australia
Everything is very open with a very clear description of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your site is useful. Thank you for sharing! Hattie Yule Parish
“I was very pleased to find this page. I want to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every little bit of it and I have you book-marked to look at new things on your blog.”
https://israelnightclub.com/%d7%a0%d7%a2%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%95%d7%95%d7%99-%d7%91%d7%97%d7%99%d7%a4%d7%94/
23454
[url=http://hcialischeapc.com/]cialis online cheap[/url]
The article is really excellent. Every time I read it, I get information again.
The best article I’ve read in a long tiime……
It’s going to be finish of mine day, however
before ending I am reading this fantastic article
to improve my knowledge.
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I am experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don抰 know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting similar rss downside? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
Hello there! This article couldn’t be written much better!
Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this post to him.
Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!
Spot on with this write-up, I actually feel this
website needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see
more, thanks for the information!
When someone writes an piece of writing he/she maintains the plan of a user in his/her brain that how a user can be aware of it.
Thus that’s why this article is perfect. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I
will be waiting for your further post thanks once again.
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you shared this useful information with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Its like you read my mind! Yoou seem to know a lot about this, like you
wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive
the message home a bit, but instead of that, thi is excellent blog.
An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
http://cse.google.rs/url?q=https://comprarcialis5mg.org/it/comprare-spedra-avanafil-senza-ricetta-online/
Celesta (Celesta) http://maps.google.iq/url?q=https://comprarcialis5mg.org/it/comprare-spedra-avanafil-senza-ricetta-online/
I’d like to thank you for
the efforts you’ve put in penning this site.
I really hope to check out
the same high-grade blog posts by you
later on as well. In truth, your creative writing
abilities has inspired me to get my own site now
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered
It positively useful and it has helped me
out loads. I hope to give a contribution different customers like
its aided
me. Great job.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and
in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog
posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and
even I achievement you access consistently quickly