London — Re-imagination of the way we live in a city
London during lockdown
Walking through Piccadilly Circus, one of the most popular tourist spots in London, it felt unreal that you could hardly see anyone one on the street. Having lived in one of the densest cities in the world, it was definitely a strange experience for its residents. We are so used to the hustle and bustle of the city that we could have never imagined London as such a tranquil place with no tourists, no commuters, not even many cars running around.
On the 23rd of March, the Prime Minister announced that all UK residents must stay home to combat the unprecedented challenges of Coronavirus. Since then, our lives have changed drastically. People were only allowed to leave their home for basic necessities, exercise and medical needs. We lived in a strict lockdown situation for 6 weeks until early May, when the Prime Minister announced a roadmap to lift the restrictions step by step. People were then encouraged to exercise outside as many times each day as they wished.
Moving into June, children started returning to schools, local public transport slowly resumed, non-essential retail could finally reopen; and people are now allowed to meet with friends outdoors. Life seems to have slowly returned to normal, yet this quarantine experience might have a lasting legacy in our lives. After three months in lockdown, people in the UK have become accustomed to the ‘new normal;’ working from home, wearing face masks in enclosed spaces and maintaining social distance. We have all been impacted to a certain extent during this pandemic. As the UK is slowly lifting its lockdown measures and moving on its path to recovery, it is perhaps the time for Londoners to consider the future direction of their city.
Government responses: Recovery and reinvention
In light of the unprecedented impact of coronavirus on its economy, the UK Government announced a coronavirus support package to aid public services, businesses and individuals, including a £330 billion coronavirus loan to help businesses survive.
Aside from the economic packages, the UK Government has also launched a £2 billion travel scheme to “put cycling and walking at the heart of our transport policy.” As public transport was forced to operate at 15–20% of its original capacity to control the spread of coronavirus, it will no longer be possible for people to commute via public transport; and they will have to consider alternative modes of transport. Local authorities across the country will be supported in increasing provisions for cyclists, such as creating protected cycle tracks.
Among the local authorities in London, some have reallocated road space for surging numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. Hackney Council has widened pavements or even closed streets to support people walking and cycling more; and allow them to observe social distancing ettiquette.
Post Covid19 life: rethinking the way we live
As London is navigating its own path out of the lockdown, we are at the point of rethinking the way we live in the city. Since public transport is no longer a safe option for travel within the city, could this be an opportunity to consider alternative options; and perhaps a more sustainable mode of travel? A testing ground for the government and local authorities has emerged from the pandemic.
Living in a compact city like London, people spend more than an hour on public transport on a daily basis. People are so used to working in offices, despite the fact that most companies offer flexible working options. However, things might change after the pandemic. With the experience of working from home for three months, people have recognised the possibility and benefits of working remotely. Given the fact that offices are not expected to return to normal operation until the end of this year, people will have to continue working from home. In the future, working from home policies may roll out on a permanent basis to allow flexibility for companies and employees.
Furthermore, the pandemic may have permanently and profoundly changed the way we live in cities. As longer journeys to different areas of the city are deemed unviable, people will begin to explore their local areas. They may begin to discover local corner shops, more about their local communities, their neighbours and local parks. The way we view our local areas and our homes may be totally different going forward; and the appreciation of our immediate surroundings might remain, as we transition to post-quarantine life.
