Reclaiming the streets from the 'horseless carriage' Benz built

Photo by Tungsten Rising on Unsplash

The notion that the car enhances our lives is being severely tested in the rich world. Young people living in countries where even the poor can afford to have cars, are increasingly opposed to owning and driving Karl Benz’s 1885 invention. So says The Economist, reporting on a broader change in the collective mindset.

It’s true that schemes to make the car less welcome in cities have come a long way on both sides of the Atlantic. A congestion-charging zone started in London and was adopted by Milan and Stockholm. Later this year, New York may get it too. And even as we speak, local authorities in many British cities are introducing “low-traffic neighbourhoods” (LTN) by blocking off streets. My own local area in London has LTN schemes.

Parking is also being targetted with Oslo removing almost all on-street parking spaces from its city centre. In Paris, the mayor of Paris has done the same, as well as adding other car-unfriendly initiatives such as narr…