Car-free zones, or pedestrian zones, can be seen as a means of improving the overall quality of life in a society, but their development can contribute to the advancements of many aspects of society. Pedestrian zones are complete areas of a city where automobiles are not allowed and not only can their existence entertain a simpler and more peaceful form of life, but they can appeal to specific class groups. There are a few main reasons for this conceptualization, and they will be described based on the social, economic, and environmental consequences of each.
Pedestrian zones may seem the most appealing to the environmentalist group, and this is because they are constructed similarly to greenways and alleviate much of the stress from the natural environment. Just imagine a peaceful and serene cut-out in the middle of a bustling city that is filled with fresh air, greenery, and flowing fountains. There are no passing trucks emitting billows of diesel blow-by, the smell of burning brakes, or drivers tossing half eaten cheeseburgers out the window. A pedestrian free zone that is committed to maintaining the natural beauty of nature is also a natural cleanser, a producer of oxygen, and a world free from pollution. Not only does the presence of an immediate pollution deterrent come to mind, but reducing environmental impact through more natural practices is bound to happen in a setting where people are travelling on foot or by bicycle rather than automobile.
In terms of the social and economic aspects of pedestrian zones, it is becoming increasingly clear that sustainable initiatives are more economically viable and beneficial to communities in which sustainable practices are being introduced. In a study of pedestrian zones in Canada, the findings suggest “It was difficult to discover any signs of the negative effects of social capital” although it was difficult to overcome “the obstacles of government inertia and unhelpful regulation” . This suggests that pedestrian zones, like most other forms of sustainable shifts in the modern urban framework, are cost-efficient yet not widely accepted or understood.
Pedestrian zones have the largest impact on the makeup of society. Not only do they benefit individuals who utilize non-traditional forms of transportation such as walking, bicycling, and public transportation, but they also raise awareness that alternative modes of transportation exist and that they are socially acceptable. Pedestrian zones offer people a break from the congestion of industrialized and heavily populated areas; a much needed break that a stressed-out workforce needs. All of these individual benefits contribute to a changing perspective and culture in society; a change that can lead to a shift in the overall treatment of everyone as a whole.
Although the installation of these pedestrian zones can be dissected through the lens of various sociological perspectives, they have the most benefits from the perspective of the Conflict Theory and, quite contrarily, the Functionalist Theory. According to the Conflict Theory of Karl Marx, the institution of pedestrian zones can be seen as the next step in the development of human society. In hindsight, every social system has failed and at the rate of current climate change, the current system will also fail. From a functionalism perspective, Auguste Comte might argue that “on the basis of those predictions” a pedestrian zone is a way to "intervene and shape social life in progressive ways” . These theories suggest that movement toward sustainable development could be a bridge that connects humans with their continued survival.
Works Cited
Newman, Lenore, et al. "Sustainable urban community development from the grassroots: Challenges and opportunities in a pedestrian street initiative." Local Environment Vol. 13.2 (2008): 129-139.
SociologyGuide.com. A Student's Guide to Sociology. 16 April 2016. <http://www.sociologyguide.com/>.
