Repurposing public space for active and social modes

After COVID-19, is it back to normal, or forward to better?

Juliana O'Rourke

06 May 2020

Brighton and Hove was one of the first authorities to re-allocate space from roads to active modes

Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, plans to hand over swathes of its public space to hard-hit bar and restaurant owners so they can put their tables outdoors and still observe physical distancing rules

The past is a foreign country, we do things differently there. Or do we? With a sharp decline in traffic, repurposing urban space to allow for more walking and cycling during lockdowns has become a global activity. From Brighton to Bogota, cities are re-claiming space previously dedicated to vehicles. Most are re-allocating space from roads, but Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, has gone further by announcing plans to hand over swathes of its public space to hard-hit bar and restaurant owners...