US cities close streets to cars, opening space for social distancing

New York

WITH roads cleared of traffic because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, some cities across the country have repurposed streets into car-free zones, giving pedestrians and cyclists extra room to spread out and practise social distancing.

Cities including Boston, Minneapolis and Oakland, California, have closed streets to through motor traffic. Others are extending sidewalks to make more space for pedestrians looking to stay at least six feet (about 2 metres) apart. And some municipalities are considering adopting similar measures.