The cities that favour pedestrians and cyclists over motorists

Milan has decided to transform many spaces previously dedicated to cars into pedestrian and cyclist-friendly places. Photo: AFP

It's a gentler, more gradual way to restrict cars than establishing a low-emission zone. Many (large) cities around the world – from New York, Milan to Paris – are now opting to continue to keep the streets and other public spaces that were reserved for pedestrians and cyclists on an exceptional basis during the Covid-19 health crisis car-free.

Making these areas part of a permanent car-free infrastructure, when they were originally intended to be temporary, means removing cars from certain streets and neighbourhoods.