Across the U.S., a small but growing number of cities is targeting a familiar symbol of suburban sprawl: the drive-through lane.
Once considered a standard amenity for fast-food restaurants, banks, and pharmacies, drive-throughs are increasingly seen as obstacles to walkable downtowns, safer streets, and climate goals.
In response, some municipalities now prohibit or limit new drive-through lanes, particularly in urban cores.
For example, Creve Coeur, MO, has restricted new drive-through restaurants in certain districts, citing concerns about traffic flow and walkability. While Atlanta, GA, banned new drive-throughs within a half-mile of the BeltLine, a redevelopment project built on a former rail corridor that now functions as a walking and biking spine through the city. Planners said drive-through lanes were incompatible with the BeltLine’s vision as a pedestrian-friendly economic engine.
More on cities banning drive-throughs downtown appears in the January issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.
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