INRIX: Dynamic Management in the Age of COVID
Over the past decade a lot of ink has been spilled and expert panels have been assembled on the topic of how cities can “reimagine” the use of their curb. This reimagining has hinged on the recognition that city curbs, as a finite resource facing growing demand, are frequently underpriced and have become a chokepoint for roadway users. Often the concept of curbside management is presented as binary and includes the subtext that cities haven’t been in the business of managing the curb for more than a century.
Whether it’s taxi stands, fire lanes, commercial loading zones, bus stops, no standing sections, limited personal vehicle parking, electric vehicle charging stations or crosswalks, cities are no strangers to making conscious decisions about how to match limited curb space with the safety, economic and convenience needs of their communities. What has changed is the volume of new modes and models vying for access to the curb, and the expectation by the public that cities should be keeping up with these shifting needs.
With the onset of COVID-19, changes in street use are happening fast. With dramatic drops in vehicle traffic, radical declines in parking demand, sharp rise in demand for delivery services, and the need for social distancing, we’re seeing an unprecedented shift in how people interact with the public right of way. This brings an equally unprecedented expectation (and opportunity) for cities to respond to these changes in use with subsequent changes in regulation...
To read more from INRIX on street management in the age of COVID-19, please see here.
