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Should City Centres Ban Cars?
Writing
TOEFL-style writing task
Before you submit, check: ✓ I took a clear position and developed it with reasoning, not just assertion ✓ I responded critically to a specific point made by Chloe or Daniel ✓ I proposed a nuanced solution or qualification that shows depth of thought ✓ I wrote in a polished academic register with varied, accurate structures
You are taking part in an online class discussion for a course in environmental studies. Read the professor's question and the two student posts, then write a response of at least 150 words. Take a position, develop it with specific reasoning or examples, and engage critically with at least one of the students' ideas; do not merely summarise the posts.
Professor Okafor: Some European cities have banned private cars from their historic centres. Should more cities follow this example, or do the costs outweigh the benefits?
Chloe: Absolutely. Cleaner air, quieter streets and safer spaces for pedestrians are immediate benefits. Shops often fear losing customers, but evidence suggests that people tend to spend more when they walk.
Daniel: It sounds good in theory, but not everyone can walk or cycle. Older residents, people with heavy equipment, and workers who start before the first bus all rely on cars. A ban could quietly exclude them.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I find Chloe's case convincing, but Daniel has identified the flaw that decides whether such policies succeed or fail: accessibility. A ban is only as good as the alternatives that accompany it.
Chloe is right that the immediate gains are tangible, and her point about shoppers deserves emphasis. Retailers tend to overestimate how many customers arrive by car, whereas pedestrians visit more often and linger longer. Even so, evidence of increased spending is no comfort to a resident who cannot walk a kilometre to the pharmacy.
What follows, in my view, is not that bans should be avoided but that they should be designed with exceptions and investment. Residents with limited mobility, emergency services and early-morning workers could be granted permits, while frequent, low-cost shuttles and secure bicycle parking on the perimeter would give everyone else a practical alternative. Cities that introduced restrictions without these measures have often faced resistance, whereas those that paired them with improved transport were generally successful.
On balance, then, more cities should follow the example, provided that they treat inclusion as part of the plan rather than an afterthought.
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