People say that cars should be banned from the centres of larg | Diyorbek's IELTS | 9.0

People say that cars should be banned from the centres of large cities.
Do you agree or disagree? (IELTS General Training Topic)

Cars have spread across the world in plague proportions, causing congestion and pollution, especially in the centres of large metropolises. Suggestions that vehicles should be restricted from city centres certainly have their merits, though there are some disadvantages to be considered as well.

Making sure cars stay away from city centres is generally a good idea, particularly if the central city area is relatively small, like Melbourne. In this case, it would be easy for drivers to leave their vehicles on the fringes of central areas and take public transport or walk the rest of the way to their destination. Gridlock would be eased considerably and many commuters would be encouraged to seek transport alternatives, like bicycles. The city centre would become a calm, people-friendly oasis.

On the other hand, if the cities being considered for car bans have large built-up centres, like Tokyo, this would place additional stress on public transport networks, and disadvantage the elderly and disabled, who would otherwise enjoy maintaining their independence. Supplementary parking for the cars left at the fringes would also be required, as well as new pedestrian infrastructure. Finally, after all these changes, congestion would likely remain outside the city centres anyway.

In conclusion, depending on individual circumstances, it is mostly easy to agree with the idea of banning cars from big city centres. However, there are some disadvantages which need to be kept in mind. Whichever solution is chosen, the issue of congestion caused by cars is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. (250 words)

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