It?s funny how the idea of a purpose-built, car-free city where everything you need is easily accessible on foot seems so modern, yet it?s actually a return to our roots. To some, banning automobiles from densely populated urban centers is a radical concept, but European cities like Venice and Brussels are giving architects and urban planners fresh inspiration for contemporary equivalents. Here?s a mix of historic car-free places around the world, and pedestrian-only proposals for cities like New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
NYC?s Broadway as a Pedestrian-Only Park

One of New York City?s best-known yet least-busy streets could transform into a pedestrian-only park, eliminating cars and trucks and providing green pathways to and from major public spaces like Times Square and Madison Square Park. The difference between converting a section of the city to a park and creating a car-free section is access to all of the businesses and public services residents need on a daily basis, so depending on how it?s handled, this could be a major, positive change to the way the city functions. The proposal, by Perkins Eastman, would also help Manhattan manage its drainage system, allowing water to be absorbed into the soil. A Prime Pedestrian-Friendly Example: Venice, Italy

Quite simply the greatest pedestrian city in the world, Venice?s very walkable web of streets forbids almost all motor vehicle traffic, with dense buildings clustered around charming promenades and tranq...