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Vienna also turned one of its biggest shopping streets into a mostly pedestrian zone a few years ago. The results are great, the only issue is that two thirds o

Vienna also turned one of its biggest shopping streets into a mostly pedestrian zone a few years ago. The results are great, the only issue is that two thirds of it are shared spaces where cars are still allowed to drive, albeit witout priority over pedestrians. Mostly because some parties vehemently fought against pedestrian areas, claiming businesses will lose customers and shops will have to close. Turns out, there are more people than ever and at times it's so crowded that you can't even get through on your bike. Simply because it's a nice space now where people can enjoy shopping, food and going for a walk without constant car noise and smell. It's great. * https://www.wien.gv.at/verkehr/strassen/images/mariahilferstrasse-fuzo-gr.jpg https://www.wien.gv.at/verkehr/strassen/images/mariahilferst... Also, large parts of the inner city district are exclusively pedestrian areas and it makes these areas so much more enjoyable: * https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Wien_01_Stephansplatz_a.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Wien_01_... Compared to when it was still a car street up until 1977: * https://images.derstandard.at/img/2014/02/20/1392699545647-stephansplatz.jpg?s=90cfd14d https://images.derstandard.at/img/2014/02/20/1392699545647-s... * https://images.derstandard.at/img/2013/08/12/1375652399990-Unbenannt-2.jpg?s=c648175e https://images.derstandard.at/img/2013/08/12/1375652399990-U...

close04 8y ago
Keep in mind that some infrastructure has to stay in place to allow for things like supply vehicles or emergency services. The "losing business because you can't park right in front of it" is BS in most big western European city centers where you either go to a paid parking or to a spot on the street 10-15 minutes away from your intended destination sometimes.
- mschuetz 8y ago
  > Keep in mind that some infrastructure has to stay in place to allow for things like supply vehicles or emergency services. There are designated time slots for suply vehicles in the core pedestrian zone, and the pedestrian friendly streets support these without issue. The two outer zones are the shared spaces where cars may drive at any time, which is a mistake in my opinion. Should be the same as the center. Pedestrian only, except for designated time slots for supply vehicles. > The "losing business because you can't park right in front of it" is BS in most big western European city centers where you either go to a paid parking or to a spot on the street 10-15 minutes away from your intended destination sometimes. Yes, that argument appeared often and it never made sense because there never was any available parking space before, except for nearby parking houses that are still available. So pretty much nothing changed, except that some neighbours lost a few parking spaces.
sampo 8y ago
> some parties vehemently fought against pedestrian areas, claiming businesses will lose customers and shops will have to close Funny how we just don't learn from History. That's what they said about the pedestrian area in central Copenhagen in 1962. But the truth is, it became a much more popular shopping area after the cars were removed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8get#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8get#History

close04 8y ago

Keep in mind that some infrastructure has to stay in place to allow for things like supply vehicles or emergency services. The "losing business because you can't park right in front of it" is BS in most big western European city centers where you either go to a paid parking or to a spot on the street 10-15 minutes away from your intended destination sometimes.

mschuetz 8y ago
> Keep in mind that some infrastructure has to stay in place to allow for things like supply vehicles or emergency services. There are designated time slots for suply vehicles in the core pedestrian zone, and the pedestrian friendly streets support these without issue. The two outer zones are the shared spaces where cars may drive at any time, which is a mistake in my opinion. Should be the same as the center. Pedestrian only, except for designated time slots for supply vehicles. > The "losing business because you can't park right in front of it" is BS in most big western European city centers where you either go to a paid parking or to a spot on the street 10-15 minutes away from your intended destination sometimes. Yes, that argument appeared often and it never made sense because there never was any available parking space before, except for nearby parking houses that are still available. So pretty much nothing changed, except that some neighbours lost a few parking spaces.

sampo 8y ago

> some parties vehemently fought against pedestrian areas, claiming businesses will lose customers and shops will have to close Funny how we just don't learn from History. That's what they said about the pedestrian area in central Copenhagen in 1962. But the truth is, it became a much more popular shopping area after the cars were removed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8get#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8get#History