Plus a protected bike network, zero-emission zone, and 15 mph speed limit Dozens of cities around the world are working quickly to move towards a goal of zero-emission transportation on their streets. Now London has just announced a plan to make half of its city center?known as the Square Mile?car-free.
According to a new transportation strategy proposed by the City of London Corporation, the city would designate half of these Square Mile streets as ?pedestrian priority,? meaning that all motorized vehicles would be banned, unless they were providing access for disabled or elderly people.
?The Square Mile is a unique place to travel, therefore radical proposals are required to future-proof this world-class, growing business and cultural center,? said Chris Hayward, chair of the city?s planning and transportation department, in a statement. Bikes would also get a boost under the new plan. In 2016, London earmarked a staggering $1 billion for bike infrastructure, including expanding its network of cycling superhighways. The latest proposal would move to implement a ?core cycling? network across the city center, including two-meter protected cycle lanes on most major streets (that?s a very wide 6.5 feet per lane).
In addition to the car-free zone, the city center would enforce a speed limit of 15 mph?far lower than most other cities which have capped speeds at 25 or 20 mph. This change would be the most dramatic from a street safety perspective, as speed has been blame...