French Quarter as pedestrian-only zone? LaToya Cantrell says she's for it, task force to study

[TexasTowelie]

Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants to turn the French Quarter and other city areas into pedestrian-only zones, the mayor said Wednesday.

Speaking in town hall with The Times Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate, Cantrell said she has asked a task force to study the idea of reshaping the French Quarter and other city areas to exclude vehicular traffic.

She said the coronavirus has created opportunities to reimagine public spaces to promote social distancing and safe recreation. Restaurants, for one, could use the parking and street spaces not being used by cars to provide outdoor seating for patrons while their indoor seating is limited.

"I call it, "No cars in the Quarter," Cantrell said of her idea. "This is the city’s time to reimagine just how we live, how we move about, how we enjoy, and how we get to know and learn the fabric of our city."

Read more: https://www.nola.com/news/coronavirus/article_185e382a-a045-11ea-8c44-db6307b74b91.html

[Jirel]

1. This is a horrible turn.

People’s homes are there. They live and work there. You have businesses that need supplies. You have veterinarians, medical clinics, etc. there. THE FRENCH QUARTER IS NOT A TOURIST TRAP, but a living part of the city. This is so disrespectful of residents, it’s sickening.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. I think this has been proposed before. Some city downtown streets are not really suitable for

vehicle traffic, too narrow, etc.

This would reduce quite a bit. I would go for it, as most city centers are fairly small in scope.

[Phoenix61]

3. And exactly how would those tourists they

love so much get to their hotel?

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Bad idea

Having walked through the French Quarter a couple of days after Mardi Gras this year, while I concur that certain blocks near Canal Street ought to be made pedestrian-only at certain times of day and certain times of year, making the whole neighborhood pedestrian-only 24/7 is a bad idea. The Quarter is a living, breathing neighborhood, Most drivers trying to get from here to there fast know better than to navigate the Quarter’s narrow streets and frequent stop-signs. This is a nice idea that won’t work.

(BTW I didn’t catch the virus)