In the race to build more liveable, sustainable and efficient cities, the automobile represents a dilemma that seems fundamental.
Smart Cities, with their promise of technological innovation and quality of life, are at a crossroads:
Should they eliminate the car from their streets, or transform it so that it is integrated into the city of the future?
The answer to this question could redefine not only the urban landscape, but also the way we live and move around in cities.
The automobile: a heritage of the twentieth century
By: Gabriel E. Levy B.
The automobile was, without a doubt, a symbol of progress and modernity during the last century. From Henry Ford’s mass production to the postwar boom of family cars, the car became an extension of individual freedom and a reflection of the values of industrial societies.
Cities grew up around him; roads, highways, gas stations and shopping centers were built that assumed the presence of the automobile as something fundamental. Jane Jacobs, in her classic “The Death and Life of Big Cities” (1961), criticized this car-oriented urban development, arguing that it destroys social interaction and limits the possibilities of a vibrant and diverse city.
Governments and urban planners in the twentieth century saw the automobile as a tool to boost economic growth and facilitate access to work and services. However, in recent decades, criticism has intensified.
The automobile is responsible for a large part of urban pollution and climate change, contributes to congestion and, as the urban planner Lewis Mumford pointed out, “its impact extends far beyond mobility, conditioning our relationships and customs”.
In this context, the idea of urbanism focused on pedestrians, public transport and bicycles has gained strength, especially with the emergence of the idea of “Smart Cities”.
SmartCities and the utopia of a car-free city
With the growth of smart cities, the car faces an unprecedented challenge.
The promise of Smart Cities lies in their ability to harness advanced technologies, from the Internet of Things (IoT) to artificial intelligence to manage urban resources more efficiently.
These cities are committed to integrated transport systems that can include autonomous vehicles, shared bicycles and smart public transport networks.
According to Carlo Ratti, a professor at MIT and an expert in digital urbanism, “the future of cities is not about adding more cars, but about reducing our dependence on them.”
Cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Madrid have made progress in limiting car traffic, promoting transport alternatives and pedestrianising entire areas.
In these cases, the goal is not only to reduce emissions, but also to create friendlier and safer public spaces.
Critics of this trend, however, point out that the car, despite its limitations, still represents a freedom and convenience that other forms of transportation can hardly offer. Even in cities that are pioneers of sustainability, the car remains an important part of the mobility system.
On the other hand, the idea of a completely car-free city raises important questions about equity and access.
While many urban centers have robust infrastructure, peripheral and suburban areas, where a large part of the population resides, often rely on the car.
Transforming the city into a car-free space could, paradoxically, exacerbate inequalities and limit access to work and services for those who do not live in the centre.
Transform instead of eliminate?
Perhaps the answer is not to eliminate the car, but to transform it so that it integrates more harmoniously into the city.
Advances in electric and autonomous vehicle technology offer an opportunity to reduce the ecological footprint of cars and optimize their use.
Autonomous vehicles, for example, could reduce the need for parking in cities and increase transportation efficiency by minimizing congestion.
In addition, the electrification of cars helps to reduce emissions, thus contributing to urban sustainability goals.
However, simply making cars greener doesn’t solve the fundamental problem of space in the city.
For many urban planners, the main conflict is not just pollution, but the space cars occupy and their impact on urban life.
In his book “Human Transit,” transportation expert Jarrett Walker suggests that “the real challenge is to create efficient public transportation that can compete in convenience with the car.” In this sense, the commitment to technology must be twofold: improve cars and, at the same time, create alternatives that reduce our need to use them.
Exemplary models of transformed cities
Around the world, some cities have begun to experiment with models that do not completely eliminate the automobile, but do redefine its role in the city. In Singapore, for example, the government has adopted quota and high tax policies to reduce the number of cars on the road. Through a “congestion pricing” system, car use is discouraged during peak hours, while an efficient and affordable public transport network covers the needs of the majority of inhabitants.
Paris, on the other hand, has chosen to reduce the speed of cars to 30 km/h in most parts of the city, limiting parking space and promoting the use of electric bicycles and scooters. This strategy seeks to reduce the number of vehicles without eliminating them completely, while encouraging the creation of shared and pedestrian spaces. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor, has defended these policies by assuring that “Paris should be a place for people, not for cars”.
Finally, in the United States, the city of San Francisco has begun to ban cars in certain areas, especially in downtown neighborhoods such as Market Street.
In this case, the local government is committed to shared and multimodal transport, in which taxis, bicycles and electric buses offer fast and efficient alternatives.
In conclusion
The transition to a smart and sustainable city does not necessarily imply the end of the automobile, but it does require a profound transformation in its use and function.
The car, as a legacy of the twentieth century, cannot continue to dominate the urban space of the future. Technology can help make vehicles cleaner and more efficient, but the real challenge lies in creating cities that are less dependent on them, betting on urban design that prioritizes people, shared space, and accessible transportation.
The city of the future may coexist with the automobile, but it will be a city where the car is no longer king.
