Originally posted by JonR
Merchants also had a nice day: The number of people using retail outlets and cafes increased moderately at all hours of the day on the carfree day.
At one time, motorcars had a highly stimulating effect upon the American economy (and perhaps others). The highways began to stretch out across the land, bringing new customers who could now travel all over in their motorcars. Motels, restaurants, entertainment establishments spung up everywhere there was a highway bringing customers. To underscore this effect, when new modern freeways replaced older, two lane highways, the traffic was diverted and many businesses simply withered on the old highways.
But today, in the inner cities, the isolation of motoring has the opposite effect. People who stay in their cars don't visit shops as much. They don't even see them.
The only thing they visit are malls and drive-throughs.
If this trend continues, the internet is the only place people will shop.
I think it's time for a revolution.