Pedestrian And Bike Only Zones (PHOTOS)

We here at HuffPost Green adore pedestrian-only zones and bike friendly areas, which is why we decided to investigate locations around the world that are car-free. We found that some spaces have been created for this purpose while others are reclaimed sites that have been converted into pedestrian and pedal-friendly public spaces.

In 72 hours, San Francisco officials created, in the Castro district, a public plaza and park from an overcrowded intersection. New York's Times Square plaza began as a pilot program but has since been made into a designated pedestrian only area. Curitiba, Brazil has supported pedestrian power since 1972, when a group of activists converted a street into a no-car zone. The area now stretches fifteen blocks. Brisbane, Australia unveiled the world's largest tensegrity bridge, an LED powered haven for the city's pedestrians and cyclists.

Have we missed a favorite car-free zone in our Take Back the Streets slideshow? If so, leave it in the comments. And don't forget to vote on your top picks!

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Times Square, New York

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Times Square, arguably New York City's most congested neighborhood, created two pedestrian plazas last June. The pilot program was intended to be temporary, however, it proved so popular that the outdoor space was made permanent. No longer zooming with taxicabs and angry drivers, pedestrians have reclaimed the area. Not only did the redesign reroute traffic but it also increased local business due to the increased pedestrian travel. Car-related pedestrian accidents fell by 35 percent and motorist and passenger injuries were reduced by 63 percent.

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Times Square, arguably New York City's most congested neighborhood, created two pedestrian plazas last June. The pilot program was intended to be temporary, however, it proved so popular that the outdoor space was made permanent. No longer zooming with taxicabs and angry drivers, pedestrians have reclaimed the area. Not only did the redesign reroute traffic but it also increased local business due to the increased pedestrian travel. Car-related pedestrian accidents fell by 35 percent and motorist and passenger injuries were reduced by 63 percent.

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Comments

[Kenz300]

01:11 PM on 08/17/2010

The auto has monopolized transportation for 60 years.

We need to break the automobile monopoly on transportation.

We need more bicycle friendly policies and bike lanes so children
and adults can ride to work or school safely.

We need more mass transit that is bicycle friendly.

We need more work environments that promote bringing your bike to work
by providing a safe place to park it and lock it up.

[xpx]

12:59 AM on 07/22/2010

Mexico City has a similar program to the bike program in DC, but much more extensive. Chicago also has lots of bike lanes and such.

[paul5280]

07:12 PM on 07/06/2010

I think Denver's 16th Street Mall definitely deserves a mention on this list. It was opened in 1982, and has succeeded where many other pedestrian-only conversions of its time failed. It's the cultural artery of Downtown Denver running from Civic Center Park where the state capitol and the Denver City and County Building reside, to the LoDo neighborhood where many of the city's nightlife destinations reside. RTD, the regional transportation authority, also runs eco-friendly shuttle buses down the length of the mall.

http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/attractions/detail?memid=2435

Regarding Austin, if it's so "laden with pedestrian only and bike only zones" why not include a photo of one of them instead of the lone bicyclist riding down a street clearly designed for cars?

[Shanna Howard]

05:46 PM on 07/06/2010

Austinites love their bikes, and it' s a fun city to bike in, but lately some days we have at least one fatal or near-fatal accident here, including hit and runs way too often for comfort.

[JohnSawyer]

05:03 AM on 07/06/2010

What's an LED-powered haven? LEDs (light-emitting diodes) emit light, not power, and so they require power themselves. Does the article mean "an LED-lit haven"?

[goodmarina]

02:30 AM on 07/06/2010

Forget all this stuff. .... I think we ought to all ride horses : )

[thegirlnextdoor]

02:04 AM on 07/06/2010

I tried for years to get my city to close our oldest main street just to highway buses. You'd have thought I was trying to take the dollars out of the pockets of the merchants. It was really depressing. I'd say, no one in those buses is going to come in your shop, they are driving past out of town. Gone. Where as people walking find the street with the noise and the fumes uncomfortable because of the number of tourist buses - driving up the street out of town to the ferries.
Still the same. And the street is ideally proportioned for walking and bikes.

[realitytrumpsbull]

12:11 AM on 07/06/2010

I have a comment to add that probably won't pass muster with the censor, but here goes anyway:
People are kinda stupid, or, if not stupid, not very self-aware, more self-absorbed, not really paying very close attention to what else goes on around em, especially these days, where everyone has one of those Locutus Of Borg Bluetooth things jammed in their ears. Used to be Walkmans, but those have kind of gone away, now replaced by the Neverending Cellphone Conversation. Same difference though, the person's hearing is limited, and their attention is decidedly elsewhere. Having ridden through 'pedestrian-friendly' zones on a bicycle, I observed that the people there seem to think it's 'pedestrian ONLY', something like that. Nobody looks out for bicycles, and part of the problem is, they're quiet, no one hears you coming, or sees you, pedestrian and motorist alike. If you're riding around other people, you have to kind of expect acts of sheer stupidity, ignorance, and bad manners, plainly put. Or, you need to clamp some kind of noisemaker to the front handlebars. In any case, you need to make sure your brakes work so you can lock up that back tire and make an abrupt velocity/direction change. And, never, never assume that you're seen. Period. I think if they want to help bicyclists, then make some roads 'bicycle only', no traffic conflicts. But, even if they do that, the weakest link in the safety chain is YOU, on the bike. Brakes!

[goodmarina]

02:27 AM on 07/06/2010

Amen!

[sweet jane]

11:30 PM on 07/05/2010

what about boston's downtown crossing?

[MrBadExample]

11:18 PM on 07/05/2010

Bike lanes are a feminist issue--women cyclists are much less likely to ride in streets where there isn't a protected lane.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/in-urban-cycling-a-gender-gap-persists/

protected bicycle lanes benefit everybody--even those who don't ride benefit from commuters who aren't adding to carbon exhaust, and (since cyclists tend to be healthier than non-cyclists), a high proportion of riders mean the premiums on your company's group health insurance policy should be lower than you would otherwise get.

[thegirlnextdoor]

02:05 AM on 07/06/2010

When I lived in Holland with all the bike lanes and bike lights and bike lanes away from cars - it was heaven.

[dannyconda]

10:35 PM on 07/05/2010

No matter where you ride, you will be challenged.
I live in the country, beautiful roads, and on most 35 mile rides, I will be passed by less than 25 vehicles, and never have to clip out.
Bicycle paradise.
Then there's the dogs.
Dogs run free in the country, and some love to chase bicycles.
It's fun for the dog, and it's fun for me.
Until 2 weeks ago - dog changed the rules.
Came on a red pit bull in front of me, I startled him.
(I don't ride slow)
He got in chase mode, then darted right in front of me as I was picking up speed for the
Main Event. Last thing I remember was his painful yowl, I T-boned him good.
Next thing I remember is writhing in pain on the pavement, and the sound of a diesel pick up coming down the road. And I think, this is going to go from bad to worse.
A kind farmer stopped in time, and thought I had a heart attack.
I said no, I hit that dog.
What dog? He says.
Anyway, he thru my Peggoretti into the back of his truck, and drove me 14 miles home.
Broke my collarbone in 4 places, helmet took a lot if impact. Back and wrist banged up.
Right there is the worst and best of riding in farm country.

[bkrider9]

10:58 PM on 07/05/2010

Wow man, sorry about that! Well I'm just glad that dog didn't get ahold of you after you crashed. The US has to get control of the dog situation. I wish you happy riding from now on!

[levibatgirl]

10:33 PM on 07/05/2010

I think it's good to have bike lanes and paths so people can bike safely.
The other day there was some guy riding his bike right in the middle of a car lane holding up traffic.
I kept a save distance and waited for him to ease over to the right and let the cars pass.
When it was obvious he had no intentions of moving over I honked at him and he gave me the finger.

lol

[goodmarina]

02:30 AM on 07/06/2010

Ah yes.... I live in Austin, TX and we do have bike lanes now.

Do you know how many cyclists still use the car lanes while ignoring the bike lanes? Better yet ... somehow, they think the road rules (you know ... stop signs, stop lights, etc.) do not apply to them. (Now before yall get angry ... not everyone's this way).

It is very frustrating because cyclists complain about motorists. Motorists complain about cyclists ... and then you have the pedestrians who think they own the road and everyone has to give right away to those idi*ts who talk on their cell phones while crossing the street when there's a do not walk sign.

[vagabond78666]

05:01 PM on 07/06/2010

I too live in Austin. It is frustrating. Riders complain about cars,but most hipsters act like spoiled children and don't follow the rules of the road. I ride but don't believe i own the road. There are a LOT of bike/car related accidents. No matter whose fault,the bike rider never wins.

[HouseProletariat]

10:20 PM on 07/05/2010

Once they tax oil enough to make the retail cost balance the current and future ecological costs, we might need more walking and biking space as opposed to car traffic lanes. Human behavior is like water, it changes to match the shape of its container. We need new energy policies to change the container's shape.

[hungrynomadiclion]

10:03 PM on 07/05/2010

I love to bike. I often go 20, 30, 50 miles per ride. I live in metro Detroit, and aside from a few dedicated trails, this is a horrible place to be a bike rider. Riding in the street might get you killed. Hell, riding on the sidewalk might get you killed too, since drivers here do not look before pulling out of that McDonald's drive thru with their mouth full of french fries. My father was hit by a car the other day and broke his arm (also bent his back rim). There are no bike lanes. Sidewalks just end randomly. A lot of times there isn't even a decent shoulder to ride in, putting you too close to passing cars, or in the gravel.

I wish we could build better bike lanes here, but sadly I doubt it will happen. In Detroit, if you are on a bike, or take the bus, most people will look at you like you are strange or will think you are poor. Everyone drives or is driven. On my long bike rides I rarely pass anyone walking, and those I do pass are concentrated near parks.

[bkrider9]

10:08 PM on 07/05/2010

Detroit from the very beginning of it's modernity was a city of the auto, by the auto, and for the auto. Like one of those lost Mayan cities covered in thick jungle, Detroit must be rediscovered and restored so that it is once again of the people, by the people and for the people.

[lendiggy]

09:42 PM on 07/05/2010

Agenda 21 wants everyone out of cars. Have fun commuting to work with a bike or walking, especially if you don't live in a city

[bkrider9]

09:55 PM on 07/05/2010

Ever heard of trains, tramways?

Actually walking is a great way to get to work if you live close by. If you're in the suburbs or exurbs, time to sell and move back into town cause you're just clear out of gas in a few years.