Across Europe, Irking Drivers Is Urban Policy

Pedestrians and trams are given priority treatment in Zurich. Tram operators can turn

traffic lights in their favor as they approach, forcing cars to halt.By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: June 26, 2011

ZURICH — While American cities are synchronizing green lights to improve traffic flow and offering apps to help drivers find parking, many European cities are doing the opposite: creating environments openly hostile to cars. The methods vary, but the mission is clear — to make car use expensive and just plain miserable enough to tilt drivers toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

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