Victoria residents will soon have an easier time keeping their distance from one another while walking or shopping during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The city plans to free up space for pedestrians in certain neighbourhoods by temporarily restricting on-street parking.
James Bay residents will be the first to benefit from the new program beginning Thursday when the city limits parking on Simcoe Street between Government Street and Oswego Street, and for half a block on Menzies Street near the Five Corners retail complex.
鈥淭hese are very heavy pedestrian areas and James Bay has a disproportionate number of seniors who need to get out and about, and need to be able to do so in a safe way,鈥� Mayor Lisa Helps said.
The new 鈥減hysical distancing zones鈥� will be marked by paint and bollards. Letters will be delivered to local residents and businesses to alert them to the changes.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not closing streets in James Bay; we鈥檙e just making more room for pedestrians,鈥� Helps said.
鈥淭his will give pedestrians more room for physical distancing when out walking and shopping. And we know that this is something that all neighbourhoods have been asking for.鈥�
More zones are planned for Quadra Village, Cook Street Village, Fairfield and Vic West in the coming weeks. Priority will be given to high-traffic areas with narrow sidewalks, near grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential services.
