Federal Street in Auckland; more cycleways, extended footpaths - an example of how our cities will be redesigned for Covid-style social distancing. Supplied by the New Zealand Government.

Life after lock down may look very different to before - and that even includes city streets.

Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter has revealed planning is already underway for expanded footpaths and temporary cycleways so people can still keep two metres of physical distance when the current Alert Level 4 for Coronavirus is lifted.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Assoiate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter

The government is set to roll out millions of dollars in extra funding for the work, which will start as soon as the country moves to Alert Level 3.

Genter said physical distancing would still likely be required for some time, probably until a vaccine or better treatment for covid-19 was available, so temporary solutions that could be put in place quickly were needed.

"When people begin to return to city centres following the lock down we want them to have enough space to maintain physical distance. Some of our footpaths in busy areas are quite narrow. Temporary footpath extensions mean people can give each other a bit more space without stepping out onto the road."

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Commuters may prefer to walk or cycle rather than take crowded public transport in the short term after Alert Level 4.

Funding will come from the Innovating Streets for People pilot fund , part of a wider programme that supports projects using 'tactical urbanism' techniques such as pilots and pop-up, interim treatments that make it safer and easier for people walking and cycling in the city.

While that fund allocated $7 million for such projects prior to coronavirus, the cap had been lifted on what could be spent now, Genter said.

There was a $100 million plus underspend on New Zealand Transport Agency spending on strategic cycleways that could be diverted to the project.

FELICITY REID/STUFF Auckland Councillor Chris Darby - Covid "a step change "

But most of the changes were expected to be relatively low cost.

"Footpath extensions would use basic materials like planter boxes and colourful paint to carve out a bit more space in the street for people walking, like we've seen on High street and Federal street in Auckland," she said.



"A number of cities around the world, including New York and Vancouver have rolled out temporary bike lanes to provide alternatives to public transport, which people may be less inclined to use in the short term.



"Councils are able to use highly-visible plastic posts, planter boxes and other materials to create temporary separated bike lanes where people feel safe."

Genter said some of those emergency measures overseas had been rolled out in a "matter of days" creating hundreds of kilometres of wider footpaths and cycleways with relatively simple materials".

"We're talking road cones; pot plants, or big planters are a nicer way to do it but that takes a little more time."

Supplied High Street in Auckland; an example of how footpaths can be extended to allow for physical distancing.

That physical separation was not just necessary for social distancing but to create a safer environment for walking and cycling, given there was going to be a likely drop off in public transport because of peoples' concerns about over crowding and the virus.

Auckland councillor Chris Darby said similar changes to High Street in the Auckland CBD had been hugely successful and showed the way for social distancing requirements after Alert Level 4.

"The package gives us the opportunity to accelerate those plans; we've successfully re-imagined High Street and you no longer get bustled off the curb in competition for pedestrian space; coming out of this Covid situation, pedestrians will be even more mindful of their personal space and need for room on urban streets. "

New Zealand was full of "skinny footpaths and high streets".

"Theres a step change opportunity here; it's a social distancing solution so we can still be in the city centres, working and shopping etc. but as we move beyond that, it also provides the space for people to be better catered for in the walking and cycling environment.. "





