Pedestrianizing downtown streets always sparks heated arguments about traffic and parking, but I've lived in three European cities that did it and business actually improved. Copenhagen's Strøget has been car-free since 1962, and shopkeepers initially protested yet now report higher foot traffic and sales. Shifting from car-centric planning to walkable public space isn't a guarantee—every city has unique constraints—but the data from similar projects consistently shows economic vitality alongside cleaner air. Should we keep designing our urban cores around private vehicles rather than people?