Car-free cities are now on the rise. From Madrid to Ghent, countless cities in Europe are becoming leading examples of the transition into a healthier, happier society for all. The benefits of turning car-free are obvious: less air pollution, more physical activity, and fewer pedestrian deaths. More space to enjoy the city that would have otherwise been taken up by acres of parking lots, parked cars and traffic. But what would a carless society look like in the U.S.?
Many U.S. cities rely heavily on automobiles. Headlights explains that about 50-60% of downtown areas in American cities are dedicated to parking. However, driving is not just an act of force; it is an idea ingrained in our national pride and depicted as our one-way ticket to freedom. This comes from more than a century of car ads and lots of cultural propaganda. From car magazines to car review videos on YouTube, the delight of flashy, brand-new cars is deeply rooted in today’s culture and media.
So we are left wondering: how will a country that dedicates so much space to cars suddenly turn car-free? The answer is that cities should transition gradually. Car-free cities only work if there are multiple alternate sources of transportation. Cities should not solely ban the use of automobiles and force residents to find their own ways to get around. Instead, more space should be allocated for methods of transportation like cycling, walking, and bussing that are easier for the average pedestrian but also beneficial to the environment.
In fact, American cities are slowly introducing the idea of carless cities. According to Bloomberg, the two most prominent examples are New York City, with the closing of 14th Street, and San Francisco, which will soon close Market Street to leave more space for pedestrians. In both cities, the 500,000+ pedestrians that use the streets daily will have access to faster methods of transport, as officials plan to reduce the size of the streets, widen sidewalks for walkers, dedicate certain lanes for faster buses, and add an 8-foot-wide bike lane for bikes and e-scooters. This reconstruction has significantly reduced congestion, with a reported 30% decrease in travel time.
Carless cities also mean less space dedicated to tight parking spots, expensive parking lots and obtrusive garages. The New York Times emphasizes that eliminating parking would allow space for large trash receptacles and more bike lanes, and additional crosswalks would make it easier for families to safely cross the street. Community members would also be able to vote on how they want to use the space reclaimed from cars. There would be room for curbside vendors, gathering spaces, restaurants, and civic and social services.
However, such a transition would not be easy or inexpensive. If state or local legislators are reluctant to approve such a big transition to carless communities, there are other ways by which average people can decrease car use. For example, many communities dedicate certain days of the week or the month as “car-free” or “carpool” days, where pedestrians are encouraged to walk to their destination or ride with a friend.
Overall, car-free societies are the future of transportation. It’s best to start transitioning to them before it’s too late.
Written by Noor Mahmoud of Thomas S. Wootton High School
Photo courtesy of CNN