Keeping safely apart harder for Londoners
SOCIAL distancing in London is, in most instances, harder than many other places in the UK.
There are so many more people in London and so much less space.
Folk out in the countryside have reported going on walks and seeing no one else out at all, whereas that will never happen in London, unless it’s say 3am, and even then there could be people about.
At peaks times like before breakfast, at lunchtime and just after the working day finishes, parks and roads will be full of people walking, running or taking some other form of exercise.
This is why Transport for London (TfL) is considering introducing a temporary measure to help people who are out and about keep to social distancing rules.
Right now it’s quite hard to stay two metres apart if you’re walking past someone on a pavement, as many pavements are narrower than that.
So TfL is hoping to take some space away from cars, of which there are far fewer than normal, and give some of it to pedestrians and cyclists.
It is currently assessing the major roads it controls across the capital to see where it could make the pavements bigger, just while this pandemic is happening.
Plans also suggest altering timings for traffic lights so it becomes quicker for pedestrians and cyclists to cross roads. Having traffic lights where you need to press a button to cross is a risk as this could be a way of spreading the virus.
Will Norman, walking and cycling commissioner in London, told the Guardian : “We are looking at the busiest parts of our road network to see where we can give people walking more space.
“TfL and City Hall will work with London boroughs who are looking to reduce traffic on residential streets as long as this does not hinder the emergency services or other essential journeys.”