Pedestrian-Only Downtown Streets would Change Newburyport for the Better

The streets are closed. State, Pleasant, Liberty, and Middle Streets, typically tight corridors lined with parked cars, are wide open to pedestrians. The pavement belongs to people now: families pushing strollers, teenagers in packs, and older couples walking hand-in-hand past rows of polished Chevys and Cadillacs. Kids lick melting ice cream cones while their chaperones crouch beside glossy engines. Local bands play Motown and classic rock while the smell of fried dough and grilled meats drifts down from food vendors and open restaurant patios.

It’s Cruisin’ the 50s, and for a few hours on a hot August night, downtown Newburyport isn’t just a place you go; it’s a place you wander.

Folks stop to take pictures or take a break and sit on the curb. No one is in a hurry. The streets feel different, more alive, more inviting.

What if that magical summer night wasn’t a one-off? What if downtown Newburyport made space for people—not just cars—for more than one night? The idea may sound radical. But across the world, cities large and small have already done it.

One of the biggest concerns with pedestrianization is always the same: What happens to the businesses? But research repeatedly tells us that less traffic doesn’t mean fewer customers. In fact, it often means more.

Introducing pedestrian-only streets has been “positively correlated with the attraction of new retail businesses, especially in central and tourist areas.” ¹ A review of dozens of studies across the U.S. and Canada found “little evidence that bike lanes or pedestrian infrastructure negatively affect business performance. Most studies reviewed reported either a neutral or positive impact.” ²

While drivers might spend more on one big trip, pedestrians and cyclists return more often and spend just as much or more overall. ² When people are walking, they notice storefronts, linger at displays, and pop in stores. A street without cars becomes a sidewalk that works.

Then there’s the question of safety. When you remove vehicles, you reduce risk. Pedestrianized areas “by design, reduce traffic accidents and increase pedestrian safety, particularly for children and older residents.” ³

And it’s not just about avoiding accidents—it’s about creating a city that feels alive. In one study, researchers found that residents strongly associated pedestrian zones with an “increased sense of community and improved leisure opportunities.” ³

Of course, questions remain. Wouldn’t this be expensive? What about parking? What about the people who don’t want things to change?

Fair questions. And Newburyport is a city that asks those questions—often loudly. Just think of the long and bitter debates around the downtown parking garage. Built with great expense and still controversial, it shows just how hard it is to get agreement on any change to the flow of traffic or space.

Even now, efforts to bring back the outdoor dining parklets—wildly popular since COVID—face opposition from those who worry about parking or clutter. Change, especially in a historic town, is always a delicate conversation.

But maybe that’s precisely why this is worth talking about. Because every August, when we shut the streets down for Cruisin’ the 50s, something shifts. The city feels different. Better. And it reminds us of something important: We can change things.

What if we didn’t start with a significant overhaul or permanent closure? What if we just tested it—cheaply, temporarily, and with the community watching?

Cities around the world have done exactly that. Instead of launching into expensive construction or long-term commitments, they start small: with cones, signs, temporary bollards, and plenty of clear communication. A few blocks closed off on a summer weekend. A plaza created with paint and planters.

A pilot program that lasts one evening or one day a month. Then, they ask people what they think.

This real-world “pop-up” test helps answer the questions that no amount of planning can predict: How does it feel? How do people use the space when it’s no longer dominated by cars? Do businesses benefit? Do families feel safer?

Most importantly, it makes the process democratic.

Rather than debating in theory—parking studies vs. historic preservation vs. personal anecdotes—why not give people a chance to experience the change firsthand? Let them walk through, linger in, snap photos, hear music without engine noise, and cross the street without checking over their shoulder.

Then ask: How did that feel?

Try it for a day, a weekend, or once a month. Let’s not decide everything in a meeting room or on Facebook. Let’s find out together.

Biff Bouse
Chair, Newburyport Historical Commission
Newburyport resident

_References:

_{1. Yuji Yoshimura, Yusuke Kumakoshi, Yichun Fan, Sebastiano Milardo, Hideki Koizumi, Paolo Santi, Juan Murillo Arias, Siqi Zheng, Carlo Ratti. Street pedestrianization in urban districts: Economic impacts in Spanish cities, Cities, Volume 120, 2022, 103468, ISSN 0264-2751, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103468.}

_{2. Volker, J. M. B., & Handy, S. (2021). Economic impacts on local businesses of investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure: a review of the evidence. Transport Reviews, 41(4), 401–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1912849}

_{3.Dičiūnaitė-Rauktienė R, Gurskienė V, Burinskienė M, Maliene V. The Usage and Perception of Pedestrian Zones in Lithuanian Cities: Multiple Criteria and Comparative Analysis. Sustainability. 2018; 10(3):818. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030818}

Have thoughts about pedestrianizing our streets? We want to hear them. Get in touch at info@townienbpt.com