Milan’s Strade Aperte (Open Roads) initiative: Lazzaretto and Isola neighborhood pilots

Milan’s Strade Aperte (Open Streets) initiative seeks to rethink mobility and public spaces to ensure a more sustainable and livable city. Strade Aperte components represent Milan’s ongoing mobility strategy, reflect the impact of COVID-19 and include physical distancing requirements. The city has announced that 35km (22 miles) of streets will be transformed over the summer, with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The goal is to create protected and accessible roads for all, offering new public spaces and encouraging travel on foot, by bicycle and scooter as an alternative offer to the public transport and private car. The neighborhoods of Lazzaretto and Isola will be pilots for Milan as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Through temporary pedestrianization of some roads, widening of the sidewalks, establishment of 30 km / h areas, connections with the existing cycle paths, laying of the outdoor area, precious public space will be freed to dedicate to the outdoor life of adults and children.