| Comment | It doesn't need to be an either/or situation.
Many cities in other European countries have extensively pedestrianised central cores. Ghent is a great example (which many other cities, even UK cities, are starting to copy). Not every single street, but maybe 80% are fully pedestrianised. The other 20% of streets allow cars to enter the city core at all times, but not to cross it. This immediately encourages through-traffic to take another route entirely, but importantly still allowed access to the centre for those who really do need to travel by car (the elderly, infirm, or even deliveries as you say).
On top of that, many European cities with such a pedestrianised core have one or even two periods during the day, usually something like 6am-9am, or 5pm-7pm, when delivery vehicles *are* allowed to enter pedestrianised streets. The rest of the time it's prohibited, but shops and other businesses do then have enough time each day to get their deliveries. It's what happens already on Buchanan Street. |
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