It’s a feeling we all know. The dreadful, hellish feeling of being stuck in traffic or sitting in public transit that’s again delayed. It’s no surprise the worst congestion happens at some of the busiest, most populated city centers of the world, from Paris to New York City. But how are these mega cities dealing with the problem?
Some of these cities have been debating limiting or banning cars in certain areas in order to reduce congestion and get the economy moving again. Traffic congestion and slowdowns, when they exceed a certain threshold, can impede economic development, discourage businesses from expanding and affect productivity, and governments are taking notice.
They see other benefits, too, to supporting car-free cities, from curbing pollution to encouraging public transit use. Different municipalities are using different approaches, with some banning cars in entire stretches and some limiting cars during certain peak hours, like in Colombia. San Francisco is considering eliminating minimum parking requirements, while Brussels has designated historic parts of its city center car-free.
Here’s a look at some major cities around the world and how they are ditching cars.
