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How to make Europe’s cities more liveable for people – not cars

(EurActiv, 21 Sep 2021) To achieve deep and permanent cuts in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, cars must become the exception in cities, not the rule. Bold political action will be needed at local, regional, national and European levels, argues Lorelei Limousin.

Lorelei Limousin is a climate and transport campaigner in the Greenpeace European Unit.

When I first came to Brussels eleven years ago, I arrived on a Sunday morning. I was amazed to discover a car-free city. The sun was shining children were joyfully playing in the street and groups of young people were selling second-hand clothes on the sidewalk.

The only vehicles on the roads were trams and buses. At first, I thought every Sunday in Brussels would be like this, but the day after the streets were packed with cars and traffic jams. That’s when I realised that my arrival in Brussels coincided with the annual car-free Sunday.

A decade later, the situation has somehow improved in Brussels, and in other European capitals like Paris, Berlin or Madrid. There are many more cyclists around, pedestrian zones have been created throughout the city, including in the city centre, and many parents swapped their cars for cargo bikes.

However, we have a long road ahead, as the mobility system is still mainly focused on cars and polluting engine vehicles. Needless to say, the mobility situation is much worse outside the main cities and in the countryside, with far less people-friendly and sustainable transport options.

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EurActiv, 21 Sep 2021: How to make Europe’s cities more liveable for people – not cars