The Empty Streets Effect: A Pandemic’s Unexpected Lesson On Life After Cars

The global impact of COVID-19 has been devastating. As governments around the world take drastic measures to stop its advance, however, a small but important silver lining has emerged, answering—at least temporarily—a question that countries like the Netherlands began asking almost half a century ago:

What do cities look like without cars?

This article from Bird takes a look at some of the lessons and outcomes for mobility as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, including:

• Large drops in air pollution
• Reduced car use
• Increased use of active modes of travel

The article also considers the long-term implications for transport and how urban mobility may change following COVID-19.

To read the article in full, please see here.