Oakland Creates "Slow Streets" Program to Support Safe Physical Activity

Cities are adapting faster than ever during these challenging times and the City of Oakland gets creative and shows how LocalWorks. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and safe at home guidelines, the city launched its Oakland Slow Streets program on April 11 to support safe physical activity by creating more space for physical distancing for its residents.

With the city’s narrow streets and stress on regional parks, this pilot program designates about 74 miles of city streets with and without soft closure barriers, which are close to through traffic. This initiative is meant to provide new safe spaces for Oakland’s residents to move and exercise by using the streets for physically distant walking, wheelchair rolling, jogging, and biking all across the city.

As this pilot progresses, the city encourages community feedback so that they may adjust the program accordingly and expand to additional streets if necessary.

Residents who live on these streets can still drive up to their front door, and emergency vehicles and delivery vehicles can still access their streets.

One thing remains, Oakland Slow Streets are for distancing, not for gathering, and the community is advised to follow CDC recommendations and wear a mask while outside.

Learn more about the Oakland Safe Streets program on the city’s website.