Urban planning, architecture and infrastructure recommendations for the pandemic

WE summarized the urban planning, architectural and infrastructure recommendations that we put forward during this pandemic in my articles published by

every Thursday.

( Excerpts from “Walkable, bikable, livable cities” published on April 30, 2020)

“Walking, biking, and green sustainable transport are the primary modes of transportation of healthy, livable cities. Walking and biking are also the best modes to comply with physical distancing.”

“Ever since, we at Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group have been advocating and proposing in our urban designs that street designs and road crosssections should have one- third for pedestrians and bicycle lanes, one-third for trees and landscaping and one-third for vehicles.”

“Urban mobility should prioritize walking, biking and all kinds of public transport. The automobile, the most inefficient mode, should be the last priority whereas highoccupancy modes of transport must be the top priority. An indicator of a First World or progressive country would be when leaders in government and business, as well as the more affluent members of society also walk or take their bikes or public transportation to reach their destinations.”

(Excerpts from “Tactical urbanism” published on June 11, 2020)

“Simple and temporary changes in our urban spaces can lead and result in long-term transformations that improve the health, safety and livability of our communities, towns and cities.”

“These short-term solutions can range from installing pop-up bike lanes and parklets to providing safe spaces for pedestrians, adding outdoor public seating and popup cafes, providing opportunities for micro-enterprises, converting parking lots and idle lands to urban agriculture green spaces and pocket parks, and carrying out other place-making strategies — the possibilities are limitless.”

“Let us follow Milan’s example of installing cost-effective bicycle lanes to protect our cyclists and to compensate for the lack of public transit. Let us urge local government units to establish safer and efficient pedestrian networks and add more pedestrian bridges across waterways.”

( Excerpts from “Healthcare system infrastructure” published on April 16, 2020)

“For suspect and probable