Peaceful cities like villages
In the municipality of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain now, the permanent sound is just the humming sound and the hissing of birds. With no loud motives or dazzling car horns, the townspeople cringed.
"Before I became the mayor of Pontevedra, it was home to 14,000 cars a day," said Pontevedra Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores.
But now, thanks to a car ban, Pontevedra was so quiet that he could hear the sound of coffee spoon and lime in the glass, or the sound of birds just chirping.
To benefit most is the preschool teacher. They do not even have to watch out for their favorite kids when they cross the street for fear of traffic accidents.
Suburban vehicles can not exceed 30km / h
Since 2009, Pontevedra "banned cars". The city's 300,000 square meters of land is paved with granite, planned for pedestrians.
In fact, Pontevedra originally intended to reduce the amount of traffic. "We have decided to remove all motorized vehicles from the city," Lores said.
Today, if you want to enter the city of Pontevedra, people have to send the car outside. In return, Pontevedra prepared 1,686 free parking spots around.
Even in the outskirts of Pontevedra, drivers must also comply with regulations not exceeding 30km/h.
More advantage than imagination
Prior to 2009, Pontevedra was known for its pollution and traffic accidents. Only on the same street, from 1996-2006 there have been 30 accidents.
After 2009, Pontevedra certainly has no traffic accidents. CO2 emissions are also reduced by 70%.
"I used to live in Madrid and other places, but for me this is paradise," said Raquel García, a newcomer.
"It's a great place to have children," García added.
Ramiro Armesto, another resident, agrees. "I also lived in Valencia and Toledo (two Spanish cities), but honestly there is no better place to live here," he said.
Therefore, all opposing opinions are quickly suppressed, and paradise has existed since then.
