Street Experiments and COVID-19: Challenges, Responses and Systemic Change

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and public health
• Sustainable mobility and transportation studies

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated urban mobility adaptations for physical distancing.
• Street experiments emerged as a response to immediate public health and spatial challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore urban case studies of pandemic-induced street experiments.
• To demonstrate their role in addressing mobility and public space challenges.
• To assess their potential for systemic change in urban mobility.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of urban case studies on street experiments.
• Evaluation of mobility and public space impacts.
• Assessment of equity and citizen participation issues.

Main Results:

• Pandemic-induced street experiments offered solutions for urban mobility and public space.
• Challenges related to equity and citizen participation were identified.
• These experiments exhibited higher public and authority acceptance and greater integration into long-term planning.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of street experiments in cities.
• Street experiments have a significant potential to drive systemic changes in urban mobility.
• Increased acceptance and embeddedness suggest a lasting impact on urban planning.