{"id":46834,"date":"2023-09-10T04:28:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T04:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/?p=46834"},"modified":"2023-11-27T23:01:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T23:01:02","slug":"banning-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/banning-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"Banning Cars: Should Cars Be Banned from City Centers?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The car-free debate has two prominent sides. Advocates argue for environmental benefits, improved public health, and economic growth, citing examples from cities like Paris<\/a> and Copenhagen. Opponents raise concerns about community backlash, economic impacts, and accessibility issues. It\u2019s a complex topic that requires a nuanced approach to address urban challenges.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

What would happen if cars were banned from cities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cities around the world are grappling with growing populations, urban sprawl, and environmental concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One topic that consistently emerges in urban planning circles is the concept of banning cars from city centres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea is both radical and divisive, provoking strong reactions from all stakeholders\u2014cyclists, motorists, business owners, environmentalists, and policymakers alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of this debate, examining the pros and cons of such a drastic move. Our aim is not to provide a definitive answer but to offer a balanced view, drawing upon real-world examples like the Paris car ban, to help you form your own opinion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should cars be banned from cities? It’s a complex question with no easy answers, but one that deserves thoughtful discussion and analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Case for Banning Cars from City Centers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why Should Cars Be Banned?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Benefits<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most compelling arguments for banning cars is the environmental impact. Cars, especially older models, emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. By eliminating cars, cities could see an immediate improvement in air quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the World Resources Institute<\/a> (WRI), about 14% of annual greenhouse gas emissions globally come from the transportation sector, and 72% of those emissions come from road vehicles. The WRI has warned that \u201ctransitioning to zero-emission transport is a crucial step toward a livable future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduced car usage could also mean less reliance on fossil fuels, pushing cities to invest in more sustainable and energy-efficient public transportation options. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Pedestrian-Friendly Spaces<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winston Churchill ones famously proclaimed, \u201cwe shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us.\u201d Transforming city centres into more pedestrian-friendly zones offers the opportunity to reclaim the spaces previously lost to cars. These zones would make room for broader sidewalks, public squares, and green spaces, enhancing the overall urban experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thejas Jagannath, Planner at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, writes on Medium<\/a>; \u201cAn example of a successful pedestrian street encouraged by Jan Gehl is Stroget in Copenhagen which is a pedestrian car-free shopping area in Denmark. This has created an attractive place for people to engage in and create a sense of community so that people don\u2019t feel isolated in cities.\u201d According to Jagannath, \u201cseeing other people on the street can bring about a sense of community and belonging. Stroget is also one of the largest pedestrianized streets in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Improving Public Health:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s also a health angle to consider. With fewer cars on the road, noise pollution would decrease, leading to less stress and better mental health for residents. The ban would also encourage more people to walk, cycle, or use public transport, thereby increasing physical activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to an article published by the Congress for the New Urbanism<\/a> (CNU), \u201cliving in a walkable place that allows for activity built into each day benefits every age group, and helps people to live longer. Walking to school also promotes independence among children.\u201d It\u2019s also been proved that physical activity, like walking and cycling, raises endorphin levels, and lowers stress-related cortisol which helps people to sleep better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Improving Safety:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fewer cars mean safer streets. The risk of road accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists would decrease significantly, making the city safer for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urbanist writer Jane Jacobs, in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities<\/em>, warned that unless kept in check, city streets would become \u201cunwalkable\u201d. Her book, published in 1961, urged urban planning systems not to prioritize cars over other modes of transport as this would \u201cdetach neighborhoods and public spaces\u201d from one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an online report by Vox<\/a>, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that  \u201cabout 17 pedestrians and two cyclists were killed on average each day in the US in 2018 \u2014 the highest since 1990\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data indicates that most American streets are dangerous by design and not pedestrian-friendly at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summary, the case for banning cars from city centres is built on several pillars ranging from environmental gains to public health and safety. The idea is to reclaim the city for its residents, making it a more livable, breathable, and enjoyable space.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Economic Growth:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a report written by Cambridge Econometrics<\/a>, supported by Element Energy, on behalf of Greenpeace UK \u2013 a 2030 ban on polluting cars could create more than 30,000 new jobs and provide a \u00a34.2bn boost to the economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBringing forward the date from which new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans can no longer be sold in the UK to 2030 could create 32,000 new jobs by the same year and increase GDP by 0.2% or \u00a34.2 billion pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIncreases in employment and resulting higher levels of economic activity from a 2030 transition to electric vehicles would provide the government with a \u00a31.9 billion net increase in revenue by 2030,\u201d the study found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ:<\/strong> Car-Free Cities Around the World: 12 Great Urban Examples<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Success Stories: Cities That Have Implemented Car Bans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Covid Streets<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The devastating COVID-19 pandemic unintentionally created safe public spaces in big cities. According to a report by Bloomberg<\/a>, some cities converted streets into pedestrian-friendly corridors with restricted vehicle access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey became something else: an example of how readily urban space can be repurposed for mobility and play, and how quickly human activity can surge back when cars are removed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many cities decided to keep the temporary \u201csafe streets,\u201d \u201cslow streets,\u201d or so-called \u201copen streets\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In America a survey by the National Association of City Transportation Officials found that most cities were making Covid-era traffic changes permanent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the end of April 2021, New York City passed a bill making its Open Streets program \u2014 the most extensive in the U.S. \u2014 permanent, and California is mulling legislation that would streamline that process,\u201d Bloomberg<\/a> reported at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Paris Car Ban<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city of Paris has been a forerunner in the initiative to ban cars from city centers<\/a>. With the implementation of car-free zones and restricted traffic days, Paris has seen notable improvements in air quality and pedestrian safety. The move also gave way to a surge in bicycle and scooter usage<\/a>, fundamentally changing the city’s transportation dynamic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Grabar writes about the drastic changes in the streets of Paris in an article on Slate titled \u2018How Paris Kicked Out the Cars<\/a>\u2019. According to Grabar, Paris in the 90s had so little cyclists, that they recognized each other. \u201cThere were 3 miles of bike lanes; now there are more than 150. In October 2020, the number of daily bike trips likely surpassed 400,000\u20141 for every 5 inhabitants. And traffic in the city\u2019s busiest bike lanes has grown by more than 20 percent since.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grabar adds, \u201cEach rush-hour light change at the intersection of Rue de Rivoli and Boulevard S\u00e9bastopol, in the center of the city, brings a bewildering, silent dance of scores of bicycles. Paris is learning to ride a bike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about the Paris Car Ban<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Copenhagen<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Danish capital, Copenhagen, has long been a pioneer in green urban living. With extensive bike lanes and limited car zones, the city serves as a model for how reduced car presence can lead to a more harmonious urban environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Economic Forum<\/a> (WEF) reports that in Copenhagen, bikes outnumber cars by more than five to one. \u201cAlmost one-third (29%) of all journeys across Copenhagen are done on a bike, and 41% of commutes (to work or study) are the result of pedal power. For people living as well as working or studying in Copenhagen that proportion is even higher \u2013 62%.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main reason for for the popularity of cycling in Denmark is its sprawling network of paths, including innovative bridges, which form cycling superhighways across Copenhagen. 
Visit Copenhagen<\/a> echoes this statement, highlighting infrastructure as the main reason behind the city\u2019s cycling culture. \u201cCopenhagen has demonstrated that with a network of simple, safe, and connected infrastructure, the bicycle can be a competitive mode of transportation for people of all ages and abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Oslo<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norway’s capital, Oslo, has taken bold steps by removing parking spaces and investing heavily in public transport and bike lanes. These moves aim to make the inner city almost entirely car-free, showing that it’s possible even in cities with harsh winter climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2023, Oslo received the Road Safety Award at the second edition of the European Cyclists\u2019 Federation (ECF) Awards. The city was praised for making incredible progress towards becoming one of Europe\u2019s safest cities for cyclists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks to the city\u2019s ambitions and concrete actions, a 2022 public survey revealed that 31% of respondents now consider it safe to cycle in the city<\/a>, a meteoric rise from only 9% in 2014. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollowing radical changes to city streets, such as the implementation of 30 km\/h speed limits and the removal of over 700 on-street parking spots inside the city\u2019s inner ring road, this city became one of the first in Europe to achieve Vision Zero, with zero road deaths on its streets in 2019, and has since been leading the way with one of the fewest numbers of cyclist fatalities per year in Europe,\u201d Travel Tomorrow<\/a> reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Oslo isn\u2019t the only Norwegian city making in-roads when it comes to making life safer and easier for commuters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN reported<\/a> on 18 April 2023 that a three-kilometer-long (1.8-mile) cycling and pedestrian tunnel, named Fyllingsdalstunnelen, opened in Norway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tunnel is one of two tunnels in the new pedestrian and cycling path from the city center to Fyllingsdalen in Bergen. The path is 7.8 km long in total and takes about 25 minutes to bike,\u201d Visit Bergen<\/a> stated on its website. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Barcelona<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona\u2019s \u201cSuperblock\u201d model aims to reduce traffic by creating zones that are primarily for local access, with through-traffic going around them. This has led to increased public spaces and improved air quality in the implemented areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POLIS, a leading network of European cities and regions working together to develop innovative technologies and policies for local transport, explains the Superblock as \u201ca 3 x 3 grid of 9 city blocks and restrict vehicle traffic to the streets on the perimeter. The interior streets then become available for walking, biking, and expanded green space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project was developed by Salvador Rueda, City of Barcelona’s Director of Urban Ecology. \u201cWe want these public spaces to be areas where one can exercise all citizen rights: exchange, expression and participation, culture and knowledge, the right to leisure,\u201d Rueda told The Guardian<\/a> in an interview about the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona’s Car-Free Superblock Explained:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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