This town banned cars (except tiny electric ones)

Overview

The video argues that some towns can successfully reduce (or effectively eliminate) car dependence by starting from a constraint rather than trying to change car-centric infrastructure later.

Why car bans can be hard elsewhere

• Urban planning changes are slow because many towns were originally built around cars.
• Even when cities want to become more transit-friendly and walkable, the transition is difficult.

Zermatt’s “car never arrived” path

Zermatt is a ski resort in the Alps in southern Switzerland, located at the end of a valley with mountains that block easy access.

• There is a road, but it’s restricted:
  • access requires special permission
  • there’s a high fee
  • it doesn’t allow direct entry into the town proper
• Parking and shuttling are handled by the neighboring town.
• Tourists use train/tram-style transport to reach Zermatt.

Modernization in the 1980s: skipping petrol cars entirely

In the 1980s, Zermatt modernized by going fully electric, rather than adopting internal combustion vehicles first.

Key rules include:

• No private cars for individuals.
• Local government controls vehicle access.
• Businesses must apply with justification, using:
  • a checklist
  • documentation
  • permissions granted that may last around three years if operations continue.
• Certain vehicle types (such as deliveries) are allowed only in limited ways, for example:
  • shops/restaurants don’t receive unrestricted vehicle access
  • even residents with special needs may be directed to use taxis instead of personal vehicles

Electric vehicle fleet design (“milk float” style)

The video highlights that Zermatt’s vehicles resemble British milk floats—battery-electric vehicles designed for:

• long service life
• low-speed use
• easy repairs
• minimal noise

They originate from an approach meant for decades of low-speed deliveries.

Zermatt applied similar vehicles to:

• taxis
• buses
• trucks
• even police vehicles

The town also has local manufacturing history connected to horse-drawn vehicles.

Observed outcome: near absence of traffic noise

A major reported benefit is the lack of the constant background traffic roar found in other cities.

• This quietness is described as especially notable at night
• The creator notes it’s not universal, since there may still be noise from:
  • construction
  • river noise
  • the resort’s specific context

Cultural normalization

The video emphasizes that residents treat the system as normal:

• Children grow up thinking it’s “crazy” to ask for a car.
• Outsiders are surprised by how daily life works without petrol cars.
• Locals typically explain the practical alternatives:
  • walking
  • cycling
  • buses

Presenters / contributors

• Tom Scott (referenced as a resident in the subtitles)
• The video’s narrator/creator (not explicitly named in the provided subtitles)