Paris, New York, Tokyo: Metro, walking, and cycling replace cars in major cities

A new study by the Paris urban planning agency, released September 9, shows that over the past two decades, major cities have significantly reduced car use in favor of metro, walking, and cycling. The transformation accelerated after the Covid-19 pandemic, exemplified by Paris banning cars from Rue de Rivoli in 2020. Similar policies, like Barcelona's Superblocks and New York's open streets, faced resistance but were driven by shared goals to cut pollution and noise. This shift reflects a broad political will across left- and right-wing city governments to move away from the 20th-century car-centric model, aligning with climate goals like the 2015 Paris Agreement.