Car-Free Cities

European cities such as Oslo, Paris, and Stockholm have converted their downtown districts or city centers into car-free areas. Research shows that car-free environments result in healthier people, thriving local economies where people can shop in walkable places, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and better environmental outcomes.

Some U.S. cities are moving in this direction as well. Los Angeles is piloting Barcelona's superilles (superblocks) concept, and the new car-free Culdesac communities in Atlanta and Tempe, Arizona, offer residents enhanced shared mobility and transit options. Giving cities and streets back to the community as places where people can spend their leisure time is a trend planners should continue when planning for healthy, environmentally responsible communities. Read about U.S. cities' open street pilots in the Planning article "Our Post-Pandemic Future Could Be a Lot Less Car-Centric."