>...as in other cities that have converted some streets to pedestrian-only areas...

These "pedestrian-only" zones certainly aren't unique to Oslo. See Drottninggatan[0] in Stockholm, Grafton[1] in Dublin, Strøget[2] in Köpenhamn (Copenhagen), Kärntner Strasse[3] in Vienna, ad infinitum...

I'm nonplussed that this is in any way news-worthy; however, it seems to be an American website, so maybe that's why?

[0] - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Drottnin...

[1] - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Grafton_...

[2] - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Str%C3%B...

[3] - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/K%C3%A4r...