LJubljana, capital of Slovenia, has made a bold move towards ending traffic congestion in its CBD – by banning cars from the city centre entirely.
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A video, posted by the World Economic Forum, describes the economic benefits of removing almost all private vehicles from the city. These include increased tourism, a marked growth in trade and a revolution in inner-city living.
Those who live in the city must leave their vehicles in underground carparks and travel in by free public transport. Exception are made for the elderly, those with disabilities and mothers with children.
LJubljana has a population of 270,000.
It’s a possible alternative – admittedly a radical one – that Ballarat could examine as it struggle to come to terms with its own overcrowded parking woes and lack of integrated public transport.
The controversial parking plan to review Ballarat’s CBD possibilities will be put to the people through consultations and ‘pop-up’ shops.
The City of Ballarat proposal suggests the city’s CBD be sliced into three zones with different prices. Motorists in the inner CBD would pay $2 per hour for parking, with 50 cents per hour in the outermost zone.
Buses and bicycles are encouraged in the city.
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Other European cities such as Milan, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris and Oslo are working on plans to ban all cars from their CBDs as well.
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