TIRANA, April 28 /ATA/- The restrictions on the movement of vehicles due to the COVID-19 virus showed that the Tirana municipality’s initiative to increase bicycle lanes and widen sidewalks was right and the proper one.
Therefore, the widening of sidewalks and the construction of a bicycle lane network, in order to facilitate the movement of citizens, giving priority to pedestrians, people with disabilities or mothers with wheelchairs, is continuing at a rapid pace.
Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj inspected some of the works that are being done at different parts of Tirana where he emphasized that one of the lessons that the coronavirus gave us is the need for more sidewalks and bicycle lanes, which will be considered part of a health emergency.
Veliaj added that in those areas where the sidewalks have been expanded, the work of businesses has increased even more.
He underlined that even in the largest cities in the world, sidewalks have priority and not vehicles. He explained that in all the capitals of the world where cars have been removed and a bicycle lane has been laid, business has increased from 70% to 90%.
The new sidewalks are 2 meters wide, while special attention has been paid to ramps for people with disabilities. z.tosku / j.p // r.e /p.s./
