As shutdowns are eased, social distancing will become the new normal across Europe.
From compulsory face masks to strict one way systems in shops, our daily lives are going to look and feel very different.The lockdowns have also accelerated much deeper changes that were already underway in our cities, in particular, the drive to push cars out of key areas. They have the potential to permanently affect how we commute, work, shop and socialise.
In Milan, plans have been brought forward for 70 km of new cycle lanes along with the expansion of pedestrian areas.The first phase of the project will be completed in September with the remainder opening next spring. The Open Roads project aims to radically reduce the use of public transport during the pandemic – and will remain in place after it ends. This will permanently shrink the space given to vehicles along key routes, helping the city tackle its long-standing air pollution problem.
During the lockdown residents couldn’t move more than 200m from their homes, highlighting the need for local access to shops, services and green spaces. Milan’s deputy mayor Marco Granelli told Culture Clash that local neighbourhoods are now being reimagined as “the backbone of citizens’ lives”.
Similar shifts towards more permanent sustainable policies are being seen across Europe, as countries prepare to ease lockdowns and allow a phased return to daily life. France has announced a €20 million scheme to encourage people to cycle in an attempt to fend off a surge in pollution as the country unlocks.COVID-19 is set to cast a long shadow over our daily lives even when the lockdowns end. However, it is clear that the changes made in the coming months have the potential to radically transform the face of our cities in the longer term.
Source: Euro News
Global site 
Finnish site