A car-free zone

To me, "renaissance" is a bright word, and ours should be more dazzling and bold.

Downtown Pittsburgh should become pedestrian-only -- free of cars. We are blessed with a Downtown that is a perfectly walkable size. So draw a line north to south from river to river through the new hockey arena, and from there to the Point is our car-free zone. We'd be a wonder! It would be glorious! Parking could be across shore and people would ferry over or walk across the pedestrian bridges.

Imagine how rich and possible this idea is. We couldn't keep visitors away, people who would want to live and invest here. A rust-belt Venice almost. Tourist dollars may be inversely proportionate to the number of cars not trampling our spirits. And it's so easy because we can do it.

This should be our foremost dream (begin your imagination). Our hearts would swell with life, no longer pummeled and darkened by cars -- we'd be on luminous ground!

 

JASON KOTTLER
Mount Oliver