Pedestrianizing downtown streets is often dismissed as anti-business, but I've watched my own city's main avenue thrive after banning cars in 2018 — foot traffic rose 23% and storefront vacancies dropped from 14% to 6%. Critics warned that elderly residents and delivery drivers would suffer, yet the city added shuttle services and off-peak loading zones to address those needs. Don't the long-term gains in air quality, safety, and local commerce outweigh the short-term inconvenience of rerouting traffic?