Banning cars in major cities would rapidly improve millions of lives

Cities are starting to experiment with banning cars from their streets and the benefits to health and well-being could be enormous

Dorothy Alexander / Alamy Stock Photo

By Alice Klein

IN DOWNTOWN Madrid, the reign of cars is coming to an end. Starting next month, the city centre will be shut off to all cars, barring electric vehicles, those belonging to residents and a few other exceptions.

Several other capital cities are also clamping down on cars. Oslo is eliminating on-street parking and converting roads into cycleways and pedestrian paths. Paris and Brussels have started hosting annual car-free days. Others – including Mexico City, Athens and Rome – are planning …