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points by fnordian_slip 3 days ago | 0 comments

I'd replace the free parking with great public transport and cycling infrastructure. The parking spaces can be in the surrounding area, with frequent public transport between them and the centre.

Look at European cities that have implemented this even in part, and tell me it isn't much nicer with fewer cars. Shopkeepers are usually opposed to it before, but see that the improvement in atmosphere attracts more customers than are lost through the lack of parking spaces.

[–] paganel 3 days ago

> Look at European cities that have implemented this even in part,

Which European cities would those be? And I'm not interested by the tourist-infested ones.

[–] boonzeet 3 days ago

I can only speak for places I've visited, but many Belgian towns are highly accessible by tram and cycle routes and come to mind.

La Panne / De Panne, Oostende, Knokke-Heist, etc, all have quite vibrant town centres, seasonal events, food markets, playgrounds, free-to-the-public pétanque/boules courts, you name it.

Then in France, Strasbourg has completely pedestrianised the town centre, which is similarly successful, although a little more touristy as you say - nice places attract tourists and shopping, it's unavoidable!

[–] fnordian_slip 3 days ago

That's a bit of a problem. As the sibling comment insinuates, if a city has managed this well, it's likely that it will also get a lot of tourists because of the atmosphere. Bamberg would be an example that isn't one of the big ones like Amsterdam, but of course it also gets a lot of tourists.

[–] ahartmetz 1 day ago

If we're talking about shopping streets, almost 100% of them. Towns of a few thousand people have pedestrian zone shopping streets. (They are usually not doing well in small towns.)

Much of the city area, not many at all. Superblocks in Spanish cities come to mind.

Good public transport, common from 100k people or so. Universal in megacities.