04/09/2020
People talk a lot lately about “things getting back to normal.” They are, of course, referring to what happens when the Covid-19 crisis is behind us and we are once again going to work, meeting friends, eating in restaurants, etc. Just like we used to.
This is naturally a good time to be asking if “getting back to normal” is really what we want. Yes, the good old days when we could shake hands with each other, when we didn’t give strangers a wide berth, when we knew pretty much what was in store for the day when we rolled out of bed do sound like activities that are worth going back to.
But some aspects of our past “normal” can and should be re-evaluated and decisions made about whether that’s what we want when this is all over, or maybe something better is possible.
Here are a few examples: Without a doubt one of the unexpected benefits of this crisis has been the emptying of our streets and roads of cars. Noise levels are down. Air quality is better. Streets are being used for walking and biking. There is a sense that maybe giving our living spaces up to automobiles may not be the best use of precious real estate. So if tomorrow Corona disappeared, would we just go back to how things were? Probably somewhat, but maybe this is a good time to think about some tweaks. Telecommuting is proving to be a viable way to get work done for many businesses. So if more people are working from home, there will be less traffic and less need for parking spaces. A conversation about repurposing our streets is in order.
Even if we woke up to a Covid-free world – which we won’t – public transportation will take a hit from this pandemic. Cramming into busses, trains, subways and even carpooling with others is going to be scary and unattractive for a long time. It would be unfortunate if the reaction to that is for everyone just to assume that they have to get in their single-occupancy car. What a perfect time to ensure that our communities are safe and attractive to bicyclists and pedestrians. The creation of bike lanes, bike parking, and improved sidewalks can all be part of an economic stimulus that will help create a better normal.
Another bright spot is local agriculture. Around central Vermont, local growers are seeing high demand for their products. Perhaps it’s because people don’t want to go to a supermarket with lots of other people, or it may be that it’s more convenient to get produce from the guy down the road rather than driving into town, or it may be that people are realizing that the stuff grown locally and harvested this morning tastes a lot better than anything available in the store. Maybe it’s a combination of those. No matter, the point is that as things “return to normal” we may see that the relationships developed during crisis times will endure and people will realize that local farmers are essential personnel who need to be supported.
State and federal policies should be shaped to encourage small local farms that raise food for consumption nearby. This is a perfect time to begin thinking about small and local.
And in a small attempt to see the glass half full, for many people this has been a chance to slow down a little. Admittedly it has been forced upon us, but being with family more, walking outside daily, being grateful for small things and for things we take for granted are all useful pursuits. Carrying that spirit forward will be something that will have benefits we can’t quantify and measure.
Getting back to normal sounds pretty good. We can make the new normal even better than what we knew a few months ago.
