Barriers to car-free streets: Identifying opponents of pedestrianization in Montreal

Urban mobility has been dominated by motorized vehicles, posing many challenges related to the environment, citizens' health and safety, and traffic congestion. Pedestrianization (converting streets to car-free zones) is a practical strategy to reduce car dependency, promote active transportation, and enhance urban livability. However, many city residents and business owners have often opposed pedestrianization. Through a cluster analysis, this study examined opposition to pedestrianization in Montreal, Canada. To this end, an online survey was designed and administered. The collected data (1909 complete responses) was synchronized with five contextual data sources to form a large-scale dataset, including 121 variables. The results suggested that opposition to pedestrianization was associated with insufficient satisfaction with 2-wheelers/pedestrian cohabitation, attractiveness, urban furniture, cleanliness, and safety of pedestrianized streets. The supporters tended to change their travel behavior to spend more time in car-free streets, while opponents tried to change their route to avoid traveling in vehicle-free zones. The opponents included more non-cyclists, males, car owners, older people, and those living alone in neighborhoods with lower density. Opponents were more likely to be drivers and taxi users. This study highlights how pedestrianization can reduce motorized vehicle use while increasing active transportation. These insights can help policymakers address public concerns and create urban spaces that better accommodate all road users.