Councils may need to allocate more space for walking

Experts have called for urgent action to create more space for walking and cycling during the lockdown caused by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Many cities around the world are taking action to reallocate road space away from motor vehicles to provide safe routes for sustainable travel. The World Health Organization says cycling and walking are among the best ways to practise physical distancing.

In the UK, Manchester has already announced plans to protect space for those on foot and cycles after the government chief medical adviser said that social distancing measures were likely to remain for the rest of the year, but most UK councils have not yet taken any action.

Experts fear a return to heavily congested roads when the lockdown is lifted could be damaging, as it is thought air pollution is likely to exacerbate coronavirus-related health issues. Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP who co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group for cycling and walking, said action was needed to avoid a ‘nightmare’ on the roads as restrictions are lifted. This could mean local authorities allocating road space for walking and cycling via temporary or emergency traffic orders, bringing forward existing plans or targeting key commuter routes, including to hospitals.

She said: “I think people are going to rush back and to their cars where they would have gone to public transport, understandably fearing infection. It won’t take long before our urban streets in particular, in our towns and city centres are more congested than ever, so we will end up with a nightmare situation.”