Building further on the Piazze Aperte programme and in reaction to the pandemic the City of Milan launched its very ambitious Strade Aperte programme in April 2020. This plan, which was already in draft form but has been accelerated due to the emerging crisis, targets a city wide transformation of urban mobility and public space. It resolutely tries to respond to urgent short-term needs, but remarkable is that at the same time it clearly envisions a long-term perspective on a more sustainable and liveable city. A main argument made was that a decrease in public transportation use, due to less confidence and restriction measures, could result in an increase in car travel. This possible progressive increase in car traffic would be unsustainable in terms of congestion, car related accidents, and levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses. That’s why there was such a strong focus on engendering a modal shift from car use to walking and cycling. The Municipality also noticed that interventions to safeguard public health encountered less resistance because of their urgent character. And if these interventions also entail a change in the mobility system, a win-win situation could arise! One of the highlights include traffic free zones and the expansion of 30km/h zones. This will be done through both sign-posting and implementing structural elements for speed control and road safety. 35 kilometres of extra (pop-up) cycle lanes will be added, connecting to the 30 km/h zones and forming a radial city wide cycling network. Besides these more structural interventions, many on-spot transformations took place such as the extension of sidewalks, the removal of driving lanes to provide more space for walking and cycling. The painting of streets and intersections also enabled other activities such as social interaction to take place. The programme did not only entail a physical transformation of the streets and public spaces, it also engendered a direct change in the mobility system itself by providing alternative ways of transportation. Bike sharing systems were extended and more parking facilities for bicycles were provided. Also, a better synergy between public transport and bicycle-sharing services was guaranteed, based on the principle of Mobility As A Service (MAAS). Implementations are still under construction, but the city already made big steps towards change! If you want to know more about the specifics of the plan, you can consult the City’s Adaptation Strategy.