Pandemic, active mobility and urban environment

Fragilities, potentialities of cities and urbanity's renewal

Abstract

From rapid evolution and significant impacts, the
Covid-19 pandemic made Brazil one of the main
epicenters in the world. Unlike many cities around the
world, the Brazilian cities still lack strategies to ensure
public health security for their users. Facts like being
deprived of experiencing the city and all the dynamics
that characterize the urbanity led to a reflection on
the real importance of life in cities. Thus, the aim
of this article is to debate the quality of the urban
environment within the dynamics of cities facing the
new coronavirus pandemic, and the responses given
by cities to this crisis, considering the urbanity that
arises from this challenge. Regarding the methodology
adopted, this paper is a descriptive-reflective article
based on a literature review with a qualitative approach,
in addition to a critical reflection on the topic. As a
main conclusion, the article demonstrates how active
mobility, combined with tactical urbanism, can be
fundamental in the rapid adaptation of cities. It also
emphasizes that the National Urban Mobility Policy,
in line with urban infrastructure, public financing,
governance and data availability strategies, represents
an opportunity for Brazilian cities to respond to the
pandemic context. Thus, these practices should not
be adopted exclusively on regard to the emergency
aspects generated by the pandemic. The city that at
first was the scene of moments of apprehension and
fear for its citizens, can now bring the possibility for an
antidote, of its own urbanity´s renewal.