Advocacy & Safety - no car cities

can anyone list any cities they know of which have sections closed to traffic? not just little shopping side streets or pedestrian malls. for example - like in venice there are no cars in the city center (for obvious reasons) i know there are other cities in europe that have car free city centers as well, but i just can't think of them. any in the US?

The whole of Mackinac Island in Michigan, I believe anyway, and its not much of a city but it is beautiful.

The whole of Mackinac Island in Michigan, I believe anyway, and its not much of a city but it is beautiful.


has anyone ever thought of just having all the cyclist (that want to) make a city where cars aren't allowed?

Lots of cities in the UK have a car free centre, just the main shopping street and a few side roads. Its usually the older street plan from medieaval times that work best as car-free. The shops are so close together that there is no point in driving.
In Brighton there is a whole quarter of tiny lanes, about 2m wide, just for pedestrians. Found a pic:
http://www.ericksonbird.com/samples/brighton/p_brighton8.htm

Bald Head Island, NC is car free. However, most of the people there are wealthy and get around on golf carts.

Golf carts!!!!! Boy I hate golf carts. Do they drive their golf carts to their cars only to drive somewhere else so they can get onto a Rascal and drive that around somewhere else?

I think it would be impractical to have an all car-free city. However, I guess this depends on your definition of car. I would welcome a city ordinance allowing for only low-speed (under 25MPH) vehicles within the downtown area. Additionally, limiting vehicle dimensions would also be nice. Obviously this would still allow for certain types of cars but the restrictions would definately make them more practical. Also, this would force building of more intelligent bulk item movers that don't require huge heavy trucks that are more prone to destroying the public infrastructure especially in downtown metropolitan areas. Additionally, public transportation alternatives will become more widespread. I think that from an infrastructure standpoint, a ringed vehicular restriction design is a good idea.

Golf carts!!!!! Boy I hate golf carts. Do they drive their golf carts to their cars only to drive somewhere else so they can get onto a Rascal and drive that around somewhere else?

:D I honestly don't know, hammye. My sister lives in Southport, NC and you can see Bald Head Island from the shore. It costs about $40/person to ferry over to the island and we've never been curious enough about it to pay the fare and go.