Lessons From the Rise and Fall of the Pedestrian Mall

One of the few bright spots of the pandemic was a renewed appreciation of the importance of outdoor public space for social interaction. In many cities around the world, popular streets were closed to vehicular traffic to create room for recreation and dining. Alternatively referred to as slow, open, shared or active streets, many of these pandemic-inspired closures were successful, and several cities opted to continue these street changes over the course of the summer.

But as summer ends and cities continue to reopen, local officials will need to decide whether to revert to the status quo or make the often-popular pedestrianized corridors permanent. It is a complicated choice. Advocates for shared streets can point to the many benefits for small businesses, social interaction and individual well-being. However, commuters may balk at detours as traffic picks back up.