Pedestrianization of streets
Introduction
zones and pedestrian streets are areas of a city or town where the circulation of motorized vehicles is prohibited.[2] In this type of zone, the circulation of pedestrians and, in many cases, users of non-motorized transportation systems prevails. Converting a street or area solely for pedestrian use is called pedestrianization. When a pedestrian area also serves a tourist or recreational function, it is also called a pedestrian promenade.
In a pedestrian zone, many times only residents can access it by car to reach the garages of their homes, as well as emergency, delivery and maintenance service vehicles at certain hours. Pedestrian zones are usually in the city center, in the most commercial area and in historic centers.
Most European countries use a similar term (French: zone piétonne, German: Fußgängerzone, English: pedestrian zone, Italian: area pedonale).
The first purpose-built pedestrian street in Europe, Lijnbaan Street in Rotterdam, opened in 1953. The first pedestrianized town center in the UK was in the small town of Stevenage in 1959.
In Spain, the cities of Vitoria and Pontevedra are considered pedestrianization benchmarks.[3][4] Since 2020, the circulation of personal mobility vehicles such as electric scooters has been regulated, and is prohibited on sidewalks and pedestrian areas.[5].
Types of pedestrian zones
Pedestrian zones can be created for different reasons.
It is mainly found in large urban centers. Pedestrian zones are frequently the commercial and service routes of cities.
Benefits of pedestrian zones
Pedestrian paths have been studied since the 90s in Europe. Its benefits have been widely valued.[6][7] The main benefits of vehicleless developments are:.
References
- [1] ↑ Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes (17 de junio de 2025), Real Decreto 465/2025, de 10 de junio, por el que se modifica el Reglamento General de Circulación, aprobado por Real Decreto 1428/2003, de 21 de noviembre, en materia de señalización de tráfico (Real Decreto 465/2025), pp. 79080-79764, consultado el 7 de julio de 2025 .: https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2025/06/10/465
- [2] ↑ a b www.Racc.es Criterios De Movilidad / Las zonas peatonales. Consultado el 11 de octubre de 2013.: http://imagenes.w3.racc.es/uploads/file/1358_adjuntos_7_zones_de_vianants_cast__08_07_22_2_jzq_1041b56e.pdf
- [3] ↑ Guerra, Julio (23 de noviembre de 2018). «Pontevedra, Vitoria y ¿Madrid?: Los peatones ganan la batalla a los coches». Cadena Ser.: https://cadenaser.com/programa/2018/11/23/hora_14_fin_de_semana/1543013297_093242.html
- [4] ↑ López, Pablo (13 de noviembre de 2018). «Cerrar el centro iba a colapsar Pontevedra y Vitoria... Pero ahora nadie quiere volver atrás». El Confidencial.: https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2018-11-13/pontevedra-vitoria-peatonalizacion-coches_1643725/
- [5] ↑ Ministerio de la Presidencia, Relaciones con las Cortes y Memoria Democrática (11 de noviembre de 2020), Real Decreto 970/2020, de 10 de noviembre, por el que se modifican el Reglamento General de Circulación, aprobado por Real Decreto 1428/2003, de 21 de noviembre y el Reglamento General de Vehículos, aprobado por Real Decreto 2822/1998, de 23 de diciembre, en materia de medidas urbanas de tráfico (Real Decreto 970/2020), pp. 98638-98643, consultado el 8 de febrero de 2022 .