I am talking about the general metro area, not just the city centre. In a lot of cases (at least here) the shops were there first, and the thoroughfare grew in

I am talking about the general metro area, not just the city centre. In a lot of cases (at least here) the shops were there first, and the thoroughfare grew in use next to them. This road cuts directly throuhh the middle of the entire city. Specifically a stream that had decent walkable paths alongside was put underground and a big thoroughfare put on top of it. I'm part of an initiative to reopen the stream and put the traffic in a tunnel underneath, in order to create a park/urban space for people, rather than cars. I want the entire city to be pedestrian first, bicycles second and cars dead last.