Pontevedra transforms by prioritizing pedestrians over cars

For more than two decades, the mayor of Pontevedra has reshaped the city by reducing traffic, creating safer streets, and improving air quality.

Tanya Mohn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• Since 1999, Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores has led efforts to limit vehicles in Pontevedra's city center, reclaiming space for pedestrians.
• Traffic in the historic center has dropped by 97%, resulting in lower CO2 emissions and improved air quality, benefiting residents' health and safety.
• Cities around the world, from Europe to Asia, have studied Pontevedra's model as a sustainable urban solution.

Key quote:

“We wanted a city for people, a compact city where all the basic services and shops would be within a five-minute walk, accessible to everyone.”

— Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, Mayor of Pontevedra

Why this matters:

Pontevedra demonstrates how prioritizing pedestrians and limiting cars can reduce pollution and improve quality of life. Its success offers a blueprint for other cities to tackle climate change and urban safety issues.