Re:'It's just vape, nail, charity shops': Can anything save ...
by paganel on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:35AM
(#50377131)
> Look at European cities that have implemented this even in part,
Which European cities would those be? And I'm not interested by the tourist-infested ones.
Re:'It's just vape, nail, charity shops': Can anything save ...
by boonzeet on Thursday November 05, 2026 @07:37AM
(#50378382)
I can only speak for places I've visited, but many Belgian towns are highly accessible by tram and cycle routes and come to mind.
La Panne / De Panne, Oostende, Knokke-Heist, etc, all have quite vibrant town centres, seasonal events, food markets, playgrounds, free-to-the-public pétanque/boules courts, you name it.
Then in France, Strasbourg has completely pedestrianised the town centre, which is similarly successful, although a little more touristy as you say - nice places attract tourists and shopping, it's unavoidable!
Re:'It's just vape, nail, charity shops': Can anything save ...
by fnordian_slip on Thursday November 05, 2026 @09:14AM
(#50379311)
[delayed]
Re:'It's just vape, nail, charity shops': Can anything save ...
by ahartmetz on Friday November 06, 2026 @05:33PM
(#50399393)
If we're talking about shopping streets, almost 100% of them. Towns of a few thousand people have pedestrian zone shopping streets. (They are usually not doing well in small towns.)
Much of the city area, not many at all. Superblocks in Spanish cities come to mind.
Look at European cities that have implemented this even in part, and tell me it isn't much nicer with fewer cars. Shopkeepers are usually opposed to it before, but see that the improvement in atmosphere attracts more customers than are lost through the lack of parking spaces.