Growing numbers of cities are making their centres pedestrian-only zones. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Recently, an increasing number of
cities
are transforming their downtown areas
into pedestrianized spaces, which is seen as a strategy to establish more environmentally friendly and greener cities
. This
essay will argue that this
course of action comes with compelling benefits including less traffic
congestion and air
quality
improvement, but there will also
be some pronounced drawbacks.
The greatest advantages of making city centres exclusive walking zones are a huge reduction in traffic
jams and better air
quality
. Downtown areas
are frequently associated with a substantial number of private vehicles
coupled with
public transportation filling the roads during rush hours leading to heavy congestion. Narrowing down access to private vehicles
for pedestrians will encourage a smoother traffic
flow in the surrounding areas
. In addition
, a decrease in the number of personal vehicles
due to
access restrictions will encourage cities
to have good quality
air
for their populations. As we know, a single vehicle could produce a great amount of air
pollutants, hence
fewer vehicles
on the roads will result in less pollution release.
However
, with these upsides come certain challenges such
as limited accessibility for those with mobility issues and impact on service and delivery business. Some big cities
in the world pose specific areas
that are inaccessible without private vehicles
, thus
restricting main roads in downtown areas
will make it difficult for them to reach these certain areas
without taking more. Moreover
, restriction of vehicle access may also
affect the operations of businesses that rely on deliveries or services. For instance
, online food drivers will need to take other routes that are farther from the destination, which takes time and makes the delivery costs higher for customers.
To conclude
, creating an exclusive space for people to walk in a city centre might bring appealing advantages as it allows the city to have better air
quality
and fix traffic
flows. Nevertheless
, the impact on some people with mobility issues and delivery businesses also
needs to be taken into consideration.Submitted by 2024successielts on
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introduction conclusion present
Ensure that both introduction and conclusion are fully developed and encapsulate the main points of the essay. Currently, the introduction and conclusion are not well developed, lacking a clear paraphrase of the question and a summary of the main points.
logical structure
Develop a clear logical structure by utilizing a wider range of cohesive devices and paragraphing strategies to create a more coherent flow of ideas. The essay shows some structure with paragraphing, but could further benefit from linking words or phrases that show contrast, cause, effect, or other relationships between ideas.
supported main points
Support each main point with more detailed and specific examples. Including real-world instances or statistics could greatly enhance the persuasiveness of the argument. Currently, the examples are somewhat general and could be expanded upon.
complete response
Ensure that a complete response to the task is provided by fully developing all parts of the question. Both advantages and disadvantages have been discussed, but could be explored further for completeness.
clear comprehensive ideas
Aim to express ideas more clearly and comprehensively by expanding upon points made and explaining them thoroughly. Avoid general statements and strive to articulate the nuances of the argument.
relevant specific examples
Use relevant and specific examples to strengthen arguments. While the essay provides some examples, they could be more concrete and detailed to better illustrate the points being made.
Answer the 'Advantages and Disadvantages' topic
IELTS advantages and disadvantages questions normally give you a statement and ask you to comment on the advantages and disadvantages of that statement.
Answer structure for the type of essay
- Introduction
- Body paragraph 1 – advantages
- Body paragraph 2 – disadvantages
- Conclusion
Examples to start your body paragraph:
- The main advantage is...
- The disadvantage of this...
- The main benefit...
- Despite these advantages...
- One possible drawback...
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