How Ljubljana Turned Itself into Europe's 'Green Capital'

I'm from Ljubljana (and currently live in SF).

This is what the place from the first photo in the article used to look like, before it was closed off for cars:

1. http://images0.zurnal24.si/slika-_original-1384956871-965531...

2. http://www.ljubljana-summit.gov.si/icons/foto/lj-tromostovje...

These two are a couple decades earlier even, but you get the idea:

1. http://www.delo.si/assets/media/picture/20150121/Tromostovje...

2. http://www.renton.si/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1978-tromost...

The closures started ~2007 and were gradual. First, traffic was limited to buses and people who lived there, and only a street or two were closed off. Then it slowly got closed to all traffic and expanded to almost the entire old city centre (and it's still expanding). The change was far from universally welcomed intially, but I don't think the mayor is exaggerating when he estimates that today 90% of people would vote to keep it closed. It takes some time, but the feeling of the city changes completely when it becomes pedestrian-focused...

I've been spending a lot of time in NYC lately and was also there 2 weeks ago during the storm and the closure of all roads. I felt like I got a peek into what it would look like if it underwent the same transformation :) If not a full closure of Manhattan to cars, the underground trash containers, at least, they should adopt.

It would be cool if SF tried closing part of Chestnut or Columbus or Union or one of those...

"Fears that this would kill local businesses never came to pass. If anything, business and tourism have increased in the historic center."

I will say, I visited Ljubljana about a year ago with friends and we had a great time; it's a fine city. Not dodging cars was really nice. Though to be clear, the car-free area is still a small district within the larger city.

Interesting transformation. I'm finalizing a documentary on long term expats here in Kunming, southwest China. One interviewee, when questioned about the city's future, confidently stated it - like Ljubljana - would be car free. I wish this were true, but find it hard to believe as most areas have very high, recently built skyscraper residential blocks with cavernous multi-level underground carparks. Residents will not take kindly to being told they can no longer own or freely use their shiny new cars!

Car free city centers sound like a good idea.

I wonder if the success Ljubljana has already had is making them arrogant and foolish, though. That "zero waste" strategy sounds like extremism to me. I'm not saying recycling is bad, but is it really necessary to be so extreme about it?

Also, I wonder about the privacy implications of that "smart card" that is being used to check out bikes, pay transit fares etc. Do you have to use your real name and address in order to get it? Does this mean that every single trip that you make is stored in some central database?