I always thought this whole "walkable cities" thing was overblown as a car-driving American suburbanite. Then I moved next to a grocery store and about 4 restaurants that I like. I got into the habit of walking to the grocery store a few times a week and it's honestly so great. I had a 1 hour lunch break and I'd walk to the store with just a small shopping bag and buy a few groceries and something fresh for lunch. I'd walk back home and eat it and still have 10 minutes left over. Sometimes I'd go a week without getting in my car. I really miss it and the exercise. Even re-reading this makes it sound so boring and duh, but you just don't understand until you live it for a bit. It just feels so good to get off your ass and walk while getting shit done at the same time.

I have one in my city, albeit its in a touristy area. We also have a riverside park that stretches for about 10km that connected to this car-free spot, so i can basically park my car a bit upriver then ride my bike toward the spot. And if i want i could ride the bike up and down the river for a 20km exercise. It's awesome, more place should have something like this.

My city has a car-free area for ages, but people don't value it :(

I love these car-free areas, but it's really hard to find parking near them.

Pedestrian-only zones are having a moment as a trend that started during the pandemic-from wider sidewalks to communal gathering spaces-is becoming the new normal in these popular destinations.

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a trend that started during the pandemic

I guess I must have banged my head or something, because I feel like the concept of a pedestrianised area is so far from new I think it might be prehistoric

They are called "Pedestrian Zones" and are around for decades in civilized countries.

Would be a safe place for pedestrians, if the bikers didn't simply ignore the laws.

Repost of https://lemmy.cafe/post/21536162

I dig the idea of car-free streets in tight downtowns. They’ve experimented with it a little in the city I live outside of, I wish they’d do more. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Even if it was just on Friday and Saturday nights that’d be an improvement.