Milan is reducing car traffic

The city of Milan in the hard-hit Lombardy region of Italy is preparing to reduce car traffic post-COVID-19 lockdown, according to the Guardian. Their ambitious scheme will reallocate 35km of streets to pedestrians and cyclists. As one of the most polluted regions in Europe, the lockdown forced a 30-75% decrease in car traffic, which in turn, dramatically reduced air pollution. While more research is required, some scientists believe there are links between air pollution and higher COVID-19 death rates. The city will experiment with low-cost bicycle lanes, widened pavement areas, pedestrian and cyclist priority streets, and lower speed limits for cars. As a small and dense city, some see this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance: to reset the city and ensure safe travel for everyone.

Photo by AC Almelor on Unsplash