Does banning cars from shopping streets always help local business?
Pedestrianizing downtown shopping streets boosts local business, yet my city's 2023 trial on Main Street saw foot traffic drop 18% because tourists couldn't reach their cars. I've watched shop owners split — cafes thrive with patio seating, but hardware stores lose delivery access. Is banning cars from commercial cores really a one-size-fits-all win, or are we ignoring retailers who depend on vehicle logistics?