The imposition of social distancing dictated by the COVID-19 health emergency has had an unprecedented effect on access to public space.
Over the last three months, most of the world has been asked or mandated to stay home and to reorganize daily routines and work activities in indoor domestic space while looking at the world from behind a window.
Meanwhile, the public realm has shifted dramatically in many cities as roads have been closed, and sidewalks expanded to make space for pedestrians and cyclists. In many places, city parks, nature trails, and beaches remain closed. These changes have had a profound effect on planning public spaces while ensuring social cohesion and promoting economic recovery.
Our panelists from Austin, Merida, San Diego, and Strasbourg will explore what this shift in public space means for the future of living in cities.
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Laura Dierenfield
Division Manager, Active Transportation and Street Design Division, Austin, USA
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Edgardo Bolio
Director of Municipal Planning Institute (IMPLAN), Mérida, Mexico
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Alyssa Muto
Deputy Director, Environment and Mobility Division, San Diego, USA
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Jean-Marc Pennetier
Advisor to the Mayor, Strasbourg, France
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Tricia Hackett
Sustainable Urban Development Advisor, IUC North America | Moderator