@stux I spent some time in Germany earlier this year and was amazed by the walking areas. Small shopping and restaurant and living districts where cars just couldn't fit down the path if they wanted. It was so refreshing!
Growing up in the Midwest we had a place called "fountain walk" by a skate park and restaurants that I'd go hang out at when I was young. Eventually they got rid of the walking paths and replaced them with roads and then finally removed the fountain! There was no reason for that and it just ruined a perfectly nice outside area