Experts urge public transport upgrades, car‑free
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- Kendall says reliable public transport is the first step to cut car use, noting that slow or inadequate service deters even wealthy drivers from abandoning their vehicles.
- Mamdani's New York mayoral campaign highlighted free bus travel, but research shows lower fares mainly benefit existing riders and have limited effect on persuading drivers to switch.
- Cremer‑Schulte observes that cheap bus tickets attract current transit users, while those who drive for flexibility are rarely swayed by price alone.
- Budnitz points out that cars occupy the most road space per passenger, especially during rush hour, and reallocating lanes to cyclists and pedestrians improves efficiency.
- Münster has run temporary car‑free street experiments, while Stockholm trialed a congestion charge to show benefits and ease public resistance.
Why it matters: Commuters gain faster, safer travel while car owners lose road space; cities can cut congestion costs and improve public health by reallocating lanes to transit, cycling, and walking.
