The effect on local residents is pretty much the same: on those roads in Fulham they have had to drive the long way around for decades, but can walk or cycle on

The effect on local residents is pretty much the same: on those roads in Fulham they have had to drive the long way around for decades, but can walk or cycle on a direct route. I can just as easily argue that the blocks increase freedom and autonomy (especially of children and elderly) since they can now use their local roads safely and/or independently. Whatever binary classification you choose, I don't want to shape a debate around it. It is too simple. Great for bad headlines, +1s on Facebook and so on, but detrimental to public discourse and society.