Taking advantage of the drop in traffic now that most people are hunkered down at home, more cities are temporarily closing streets to cars to create more space for people to get out and exercise. So, what about Los Angeles? (via latimesopinion)
which could include closing lanes to cars on some streets and banning through traffic entirely on others. As in Oakland, locals could still use such streets to drive to and from their homes.
Kudos to Bonin for taking the lead with his Westside district. But there are communities across the city that crave more space to exercise, walk the dog or take the baby for a stroll safely. That means having enough room to allow proper social distancing. It also means having the comfort of walking or allowing children to bike in the street without worrying that a driver will come barreling down the road.
Angelenos love their open spaces. Sometimes too much. Crowding at the beaches and hiking trails last month led the mayor and other regional leaders toWon’t road closures just draw crowds of people to bask in the freedom of streets without cars? It’s certainly a risk. That’s why the city should provide an ample number of closed streets for neighborhoods so that people have enough room to spread out, rather than cluster in the rare open space.
Maybe people will love their slow streets and pedestrian thoroughfares so much that they’ll want to keep them after the coronavirus stay-at-home orders are lifted. Perhaps there will be more support for the idea of reclaiming public space from vehicles. It shouldn’t take a pandemic. Los Angeles, like every other city, needs to redesign its streets so it is easier and safer for people to walk, bike and take transit, and to dramatically cut climate-warming emissions.
Angelenos have done a good job so far staying home. Now, Mayor Garcetti, do us a solid: Close some streets.
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