Travelling from one place to another was supposed to be easy and quick, but with the invention of automobiles it has led us astray from our roots – therefore, we need to become again car-free. Banning the access of automobiles in densely populated areas is a solution which needs to be considered that will reduce the commute time. To create cities which should only be accessible by pedestrian is the job of architects and urban planners at city scale planning stage. Here, read more about these 5 cities which are moving towards the idea of Car Free Cities.
One of the busiest streets is on the way to be completely transformed to a pedestrian-only park, which eliminates the accessibility of cars and provides more space for people to move around freely and enjoy the public spaces more effectively. The reason for creating such a space is to cater to the need of the residents of the surrounding and how to improve to their daily life depending on how it is brought to light could bring a positive change to the city functions, as well as helping the drainage system and allowing the water to be absorbed by the soil.
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Top Car Free Cities:
Courtesy of Weburbanist
Venice, Italy
Due to dense building clusters and the arrangement of the walkable paths on the streets which ban the access of all types of motor vehicles, the transportation system has helped the economy as well by allowing tourists to visit the main attractions easily and also allowing access to them by the use of boats. The mode of transport in the hasn’t changed since a long time which why it is one of the safest cities to travel around by foot.
Courtesy of Weburbanist
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is already on the list of cities which prohibits the access of cars, but only allowing the local residents of some parts of the city to drive in them. In order to create the place which makes people feel safe to move around without being worried of someone coming to hit with their car, a fine of $100 is imposed to any outsider who doesn’t reside in that area. The project of enhancing major parts of the city is underway for pedestrian as well as the parking prices will go up as a symbol of denying entry to cars in those areas.
Courtesy of Fastcoexist
Paris, France
Smog levels rising are another issue to why cars are slowly being banned in major cities to reduce the carbon emission in the air and it was the same reason why the Parisian authorities banned cars to the areas with more pedestrian inflow. Another rule is coming into play which will deny non residential people entry to certain neighborhoods on the weekends. By 2020, diesel run cars will be completely banned and the lanes for bike users will be doubled to support the idea of keeping the city air clean.
Courtesy of Fastcoexist
Hamburg, Germany
As other major cities of the world are completely banning cars from entering places where the pedestrian movement is more, Hamburg is not entirely following the same idea but adding their own touch to it in the name of “Green Network“. The concept behind this is to connect all the parks throughout the city and only allowing access to bike and pedestrians which in fact will reduce carbon emission from cars and keep the environment healthy. The completion date for this project is in the next 15-20 years, but when it is completed, it will cover 40% of the city’s space and places which were hard to reach once will be open again and become lively again.
Courtesy of Fastcoexist
References:
http://www.weburbanist.com/
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3040634/7-cities-that-are-starting-to-go-car-free#5
http://www.techinsider.io/cities-starting-to-ban-cars-2015-10
By: Muhammad Umair Siddiqui