All these reasons were used in the UK too when pedestrian zones and congestion zones were first touted. For the most part, the envisioned Armageddon didn't occu

All these reasons were used in the UK too when pedestrian zones and congestion zones were first touted. For the most part, the envisioned Armageddon didn't occur. In NYC I would expect the biggest problem would be the grid system. Closing off straight roads wouldn't really make a pedestrian nexus which is what makes these work. Turning chunks of downtown pedestrian up to maybe TriBeCa would work fantastically well though.