Why we should ban cars from our cities

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As cities continue to grow, the need for effective and sustainable transportation becomes increasingly important. One solution that has gained traction in recent years is the idea of banning cars from cities completely. While this may seem like a radical proposal, there are several reasons why this idea is worth considering.

First and foremost, cars are a major contributor to air pollution. In Europe, the transportation sector is responsible for more than one a quarter of total CO2 emissions, with a significant portion of those emissions coming from cars. This air pollution has serious consequences for public health, with studies linking air pollution to a range of health problems including respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and even cancer. By banning cars from cities, we can significantly reduce the amount of pollution in the air, improving public health and quality of life for city residents.

In addition to the environmental benefits, banning cars from cities could also have economic advantages. Owning and maintaining a car can be expensive, with the costs of fuel, insurance, and repairs adding up over time. Public transportation, on the other hand, is often much cheaper, making it a more financially viable option for many people. In fact, a study conducted this year found that the average cost of owning a car in Poland is over 10,000 złoty per year (without the cost of acquiring it), while the average cost of using public transportation is just 1,500 złoty per year. By encouraging the use of public transportation, we can help reduce the financial burden on individuals and families, making it easier for them to afford to live in the city.

Another benefit of banning cars from cities is that it would create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. In many cities, streets are dominated by cars, leaving little room for people to walk or bike. This can make it difficult and unsafe for people to move around the city, particularly for those who are not comfortable driving. By banning cars from cities, we can reclaim streets for pedestrians and cyclists, creating a more welcoming and livable environment for everyone.

One example of a city that has successfully implemented this type of plan is Barcelona, which has been experimenting with “superblocks” – large areas of the city where traffic is restricted and streets are reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. These superblocks have helped to reduce traffic, improve air quality, and create a more pleasant environment for residents.

Ultimately, the decision to ban cars from cities is a complex one and would require careful planning and consideration. However, with the numerous benefits that such a ban could bring – including improved public health, reduced costs, and a more livable environment – it is an idea that is worth exploring.

Sources:
https://wygodnie.pl/porady/koszty-eksploatacji-samochodu
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/infographs/energy/bloc-4a.html
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/17/superblocks-rescue-barcelona-spain-plan-give-streets-back-residents

8 thoughts on “Why we should ban cars from our cities

  1. Antoni Mól says:

    The environmental argument seems to be compelling; however how would you solve the problem of delivering products to restaurants and cafés? Since usually they are quite heavy and in big amounts. Moreover, currently automotive industry generates 8% of polish GDP (https://pim.pl/przemysl-samochodowy-generuje-coraz-wieksza-wartosc-pkb/) which makes it one of the biggest economic sectors in polish economy and a significant decrease in it, may have negative consequences for the economy.

  2. Spasibukhov Artem says:

    That’s hard to imagine how could the most convenient way of transportation be banned some day. There should be lots of regulations created, not even speaking about the equal alternatives. In my opinion, the best way to reduce air pollution caused by cars is chosing and developing the path of electric and maybe even light (some time later) driven vehicles.

  3. Małgorzata Łątka says:

    I disagree. Cars are expensive, but for me, it is a luxury product, and banning it would be the mindset of “let us all be poor, but nobody will feel worse than the other, no matter if you don’t do anything with your life and somebody works 12 hours a day.” However, I think that public transport should be more developed so more people would choose it due to it being faster and more convenient.

  4. 47488 says:

    I strongly believe that we should not go from one extreme to the other.
    Public transportation is underdeveloped in my opinion, could be fixed.
    China partly fixed that problem by creating a perfect solution which is a high speed rail, and many other means of transportation, which works better than those in poland.
    On the other hand, we should use cars which do not pollute air so much, and that would level things out to some degree.
    This type of cars is quite expensive, beyond budget of a “regular” polish family which earns a minimum wage, so this problem is more extensive.

  5. 46316 says:

    I think it’s important to approach the issue of reducing car usage in a different way. While banning cars outright might seem like a simple solution, it could actually backfire and lead to more people using them out of defiance. Instead of a ban, we should focus on improving and promoting public transportation as a more appealing alternative. By making it more comfortable, convenient, and affordable, we can convince more people to choose public transportation over driving. A ban on cars would be highly controversial and likely lead to protests, so I believe this is the better approach.

  6. Jakub Orłowski says:

    I don’t think that would be a good idea, still most of logistics is transported by land and a legislation like that would freeze the supply chains. Moreover many job places in automotive or taxi industries would be lost. Still most cities around the world would also not be ready for this idea, as public transportation especially in the US is strongly underdeveloped.

  7. 45060 says:

    To some extent I agree with the author but I still think that complete banning of cars from cities is not a good idea. We would have to solve lots of logistics issues in such a case, though I think that cars should be banned from city’s historical centres, and public transport usage and alternative ways of communities, e.g, bicycles, scooters, should be encouraged. It has been proven that the narrowing of the carriageways leads to lower traffic and, thus, to less pollution and better overall dwellers’ satisfaction from the city. So, I think that such radical decisions are nog a good idea in solving our problems.

  8. 47608 says:

    As you said, banning cars straight away might be a bit too radical. In my opinion, the idea of replacing cars with electric ones is a bit more realistic, but also beneficial. We definitely need to do something to reduce C02 pollution.

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