Tools- of Changes

Tips for Reducing Car Use in Cities

The city of Pontevedra, Spain has been restricting car use since 1999. This article outlines transferable lessons the city has learned along the way. 

The city of Pontevedra, Spain has been restricting car use since 1999. This article outlines transferable lessons the city has learned along the way, such as the following.

1. It is critical to support car use for essential purposes, and to at the same time make it less convenient to drive for non-essential purposes. For example, Pontevedra reduced on-street parking and converted some traffic lanes to sidewalks.
2. In addition to making car travel less convenient, lower car speed limits and the use of speed bumps also made walking, cycling, and driving safer.
3. Pontevedra's experience shows that, rather than decimating local business, restricting car use can attract new residents, revitalize a city, and increase its net business growth.