Active Streets in Action

The Heart Foundation has invited stakeholders including local government to act now and implement Active Streets – the new normal for public space. 

Great examples of positive action and change to create safe spaces for walking, cycling and active transport are emerging around the world in response to COVID-19 conditions, including providing more space to enable people to stay active while maintaining social distancing. Check out these initiatives. 

Examples from Australian states and territories: 

• New South Wales: The NSW Government announced $15m for the Streets as Shared Spaces fund for councils to rapidly roll out infrastructure to support physical distancing. Funding is for two tranches: 

• <$100k for rapid installation within three months, and
• <$1m for pilot projects installed within 12 months. Applications close 10 June 2020.

• New South Wales: Parramatta Council recently announced funding and plans to extend car-free zones to support active travel and allow for social distancing. $15 million to transform our streets and public spaces for social distancing 

• Victoria: The City of Melbourne has announced it will widen footpaths and provide up to 12 kilometres of pop-up cycling lanes to allow people to socially distance in Melbourne's CBD as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease.

• Northern Territory: Congestion on Nightcliff Foreshore’s walking track as a result of coronavirus restrictions has brought on a radical plan to convert part of Casuarina Drive into a temporary bike track.
  

International examples: 

• Innovating Streets for People: A New Zealand government scheme to support local government with funding for walking and cycling infrastructure. Comprehensive resources on the New Zealand Transport Agency webpage, regarding the Streets for People Pilot fund.

• Making safe space for cycling in 10 days: Germany offers a great example of how to implement temporary cycle infrastructure, quickly, with solutions for retrofitting existing streets. Prepared by a transport planning consultancy working with a council in Berlin to implement this temporary infrastructure improvements. 

• £2 billion package to create new era for cycling and walking: The UK government's support package for walking and cycling includes pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle- and bus-only corridors created within weeks as part of a £250 million emergency active travel fund – the first stage of a £2 billion investment. 



• Plan to push pedal power to keep post-pandemic pollution levels low- France is preparing to ease COVID-19 lockdown measures with an important part of this transition to be a $20 million scheme to keep people cycling – to cut pollution and guard against a second wave of COVID-19. The scheme will provide a $55 subsidy for people to have bikes serviced at bike shops, and pay for training for riders.
  

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