http://citiscope.org/story/2017/how-city-spain-got-rid-its-cars
But it’s not just the streets near City Hall that have been transformed. According to the city administration’s numbers, motor traffic in Pontevedra’s historical centre has been reduced by an unbelievable 97 percent since 1999. Traffic is down 77 percent in the areas adjacent to the centre, and by 53 percent in the city as a whole....The city hasn’t suffered a single traffic fatality since 2011...
We took office on July 3rd, 1999,” Lores recalls. “And by August 6th, we’d already pedestrianized the historical centre.”
Both Lores and Mosquera think that opposition to these kinds of projects is often overblown by the media and boosted by political interests. Lores recalls a public audience with 35 business owners to discuss the pedestrianization of a street. All but one supported the plan, but the next day journals voiced complaints from people that opposed the reform.
"There can’t be unlimited, unrestricted and unconditioned traffic in the cities. We need to act.”
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