Car Bans
When Cities Are Designed for Driving, Car Bans Are Not the Solution
Banning cars will not be effective as long as U.S. cities continue to prioritize transportation systems where mobility is dependent on driving.
Watch the Miracle on 14th Street in Action
The changes to 14th Street in Manhattan have proven innovative ideas about bus priority and congestion relief.
New North Avenue Bridge in Boston Would Ban Cars
The "people first" design favored by the city of Boston would not allow for cars on the planned North Avenue Bridge replacement.
A Bold Vision for a Car-Free Boston
As other cities take daring steps to reclaim their streets, a car ban in downtown Boston doesn’t seem so implausible.
Where to Prioritize Buses Next
Advocates in New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle are pushing for more transit and pedestrian priority, and less car-centric streets, as a wave of high-profile projects capture national attention.
Horrific Cyclist's Death in Brooklyn Prompts Calls for New Thinking on Cars
José Alzorriz was killed while waiting on a bike at a red light. An SUV, T-boned by a red light-runner, literally flew into him.
Montreal Plan to Ban Cars From Major Park Doesn't Stick
Following a fatal collision between a motorist and a competitive cyclist, Montreal tried closing a stretch of roadway through Mount Royal Park. The pilot encountered fierce opposition.
Car Ban in Madrid Boosted Retail Sales, Study Shows
An analysis of retail data suggests that vehicle restrictions in the city center led to more sales and less emissions.
Electric Vehicle Incentives: A Tale of Two Countries
While Trump wants to end the EV credit program, in part to punish GM for closing unprofitable car manufacturing plants, Norway is scaling back the generous perks that have enabled EV sales to comprise almost half on new auto sales.
In Oslo, Streets for People, Not Cars
New measures will greatly reduce vehicle traffic in the city center as Oslo moves to put pedestrians, cyclists, and air quality before cars.
These Streets Were Made for Walking
Many streets and cities are designed for vehicles instead of for pedestrians. But policies and programs in cities around the world, and even in the United States, might be signaling a shift in priorities.
French Suburbs Join Paris in Diesel Ban
The ban on diesel cars now extends well beyond the city of Paris.
Court Upholds Paris' Car Ban Along the Seine
The ability of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to ban cars from the Seine Quays was at stake.
More Diesel Driving Bans Coming to German Cities
Germany's automotive industry and Chancellor Angela Merkel are increasingly worried about the economic effects of court-sanctioned diesel driving bans to improve air quality, as enacted in Hamburg last May. Four more cities are likely to enact bans.
Op-Ed: 'Public Mood' Has Turned Against Cars in Cities
A survey of recent planning decisions demonstrates that cities are no longer necessarily looking to more and bigger highways to solve their traffic problems.
German Cities to Breathe Easier After Court Ruling on Diesel Car Bans
Unlike banning sales of new internal combustion vehicles at a future date, the German court ruling applies to the operation of older, diesel-powered cars in the country's most polluted cities. It's up to the cities, though, to enact the bans.
'No Driving Day' in Seoul Means Free Transit Rides
South Korea has made public transit a key part of its approach to cleaning the air.
Paris to Begin Serious Car Restrictions on July 1
The carefree days of driving any-old-junker-they-please are over for Parisians, and they'll be even further obsolete when the calendar changes from June to July.
Car-Free Movement Gaining Steam in Europe and Elsewhere
Athlyn Cathcart-Keays of The Guardian-Cities chronicles the advancement of the international urban car-free movement as well as auto regulations that focus on air pollution. The most recent city to join the growing list is Oslo, Norway
Today in Paris: Half of the Private Cars in the City Banned from the Road
Paris today made its first use of a drastic plan to improve air quality in the city: ban half of the cars on the road. The ban could continue tomorrow if the current air pollution alert does not improve.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
