Public space, Covid-19, and the right to recreation

Children playing on a car-free Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka before Covid-19 struck Bangladesh. — The Daily Star/ANN

AS the Covid pandemic drags on and schools and universities continue to remain closed, children and youth in particular are tired of being cooped up at home. Serious as they are, it is not just the loss of livelihoods and education that affect us; we need to have social contact, relaxation, and recreation.

Realising this basic human need – and taking into account a significant reduction in travel as many people work remotely and learn again to cook for themselves – many cities around the world are dedicating road space that was formerly reserved for the automobiles to cycling, walking, or outdoor play. Rue de Tivoli, a major boulevard in Paris, has thus been repurposed and is now lively with people safely getting their exercise – and fun – outdoors. Other cities around the world have seen a surge in pop-up bicycle lanes and have widened their footpaths.