Cities around the world that are reducing car access

cgcsb · 04-03-2026 03:38PM

Most Italian cities are a disaster, Rome and Milan are just large ones. They lost the nack for urbanism some time ago.

The driving is horrific also but not the worst. I've driven in Greece and Albania, both are worse but Albania has the added bonus points because the roads are literally lengths of rubble of various composition, they wouldn't be classified as 'roads' in Irish terms.

Our frame of comparison is very narrow, as it should be, north of the alps and West of Warsaw.

Thargor · 04-03-2026 04:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124284020#Comment_124284020

Lisbon the same, shocked at it tbh, I was in pain at the end of every day from the crazy cobbles/footpaths, just horrible to walk around, not nice on the bike either always a car on your ass. Feel sorry for anyone in a wheelchair in that city.

KrisW1001 · 04-03-2026 04:12PM

”A Milano, i semafori sono ordini; a Roma, suggerimenti; a Napoli, semplici decorazioni.”

In Milan, traffic lights are commands; in Rome, suggestions, and in Naples, mere decorations.

loyatemu · 04-03-2026 04:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124284622#Comment_124284622

I was in Lisbon last year, Rome is far worse from a traffic perspective. The main issue in Lisbon is it's so bloody hilly and everything is cobbled including the footpaths with tram tracks everywhere. Very few cyclists as a result.

jimbob955 · 04-03-2026 07:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124284779#Comment_124284779

Then you go to a place like Seville or Valencia and the cyclin culture and infrastructure is amazing.

yagan · 04-03-2026 07:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124284779#Comment_124284779

Even as a pedestrian I found those cobbled paths tricky, especially when wet. I wonder if it's because they get so much Atlantic rain in the winter that they chose them for the quick water run off.

MJohnston · 05-03-2026 08:34PM

Yeah Porto is awful for getting around too - sure the hilliness is a big part of it, but every street has those awfully uneven and eroded cobbles, and absolutely none of the curbs are dished. I can imagine the whole city is a no-go with a wheelchair (or a pram)

L1011 · 13-03-2026 01:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124288620#Comment_124288620

Tallinn is the only place I remember being worse really. All of those Porto issues - well, it isn't that hilly, but it isn't flat in the city centre by any means - and then it's pretty common to have unprotected staircases to basements in the pavement, so if you are poorly sighted you may just plummet in to a pit.

Cities around the world that are reducing car access

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