What about the people that live there and use the road? A car is something luxurious and yet also something a lot of people are dependent on by now. I technically wouldn't need one since my workplace is very near, but that isn't the reality for most people. There also is no Uber outpatient care and many people have responsibilities outside their nearest starbucks. You won't "solve" the need for individual traffic with a sidewalk, that is just the reality of the situation.

I live in a city with a car free city core. Of course we have more cars today than before the change around 20 years ago.