Does traffic calming harm the retail trade?

Does traffic calming harm the retail trade?

For car traffic, shopping street in Cardiff. © GeorgeClerker/ iStock

Traffic -calmed zones are intended to reduce noise, pollutants and traffic jams in the city centers and reduce car traffic in favor of bicycles, pedestrians and public transport. However, the local shops defend themselves, especially in shopping areas: they fear drop in sales from remote customers. But how justified are such fears? This question now answers an evaluation of studies and practical reports from home and abroad.

Whether pedestrian zones, lanes instead of parking spaces or the restriction of access: For decades there has been the discussion about traffic -calmed city centers and their impact on retail. “Even 30 years ago, long before online trading, demographic change and shortage of skilled workers made inpatient retail, many dealers were of the opinion that traffic calming measures had a negative impact on sales and parking spaces are eminently important for their customers,” report study director Michaela Christ from the German Institute for Urbanics (Difu) and their colleagues.

On the other hand, the measures to calm traffic should contribute to the noise and pollutant emissions in

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