The COVID19 pandemic has dramatically changed the routines of people throughout the country, including the ways we move around our communities. New habits and routines have emerged, shifting the ways we travel, regardless if you drive, take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk to get where you are going.
Despite the many new rules and regulations that are shaping our daily lives in new ways, getting where we need to go — safely — isn’t canceled. We can give everyone more options to get where they need to go quickly and safely by building safe streets into our coronavirus/COVID-19 responses. Now more than ever is an important time to find inspiration within our communities.
Joining cities around the globe, last week Mayor Elorza responded to the need for more safe space for people to spread out from one another by introducing Providence Slow Streets. This pilot program is designed to be flexible and responsive to feedback. What have you been noticing / hearing / thinking / experiencing? Feel free to share your thoughts with us, or send them directly to the Planning Dept via asangree@providenceri.gov.
The City needs more volunteers in order to keep the program iterating and improving: sign up here! Shifts are only as long as it takes to walk or bike the street you choose (as a “sweeper”) or to do two 15-minute counts (as a “counter”). It’s a wonderful motivator to go for a short walk or ride in your neighborhood.
Thanks so much to our partners Safe on the Road and WalkPVD for all their hard advocating for this!
The weather is going to be ? this weekend, but it’s still important to get out and move. Remember to #MaskupRI, drive carefully, and stay 6′ apart!
Thanks to volunteer Qianyi Zhang for the video.