Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, or LTNs, reduce traffic in residential streets, and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists with dedicated lanes, wider pavements and planters blocking off vehicle access.
Speed limits of 20mph are designed to reduce the severity of injuries suffered in accidents.
Because the automobile and oil industries have plenty of political influence, and they are very afraid of a less car centric future. They will lobby, astroturf, and otherwise manipulate as much as possible.
Like the sudden appearance of outrage over “15 minute cities” amongst the conspiracy brigade. Urban planning theories don’t attract much interest from the public usually, but will if spun in to the right narrative and whispered in the right ears.
Not to mention that 15 minute cities are pretty great!
Because of the way the one way systems are here, anything inside a 15 minute walk is already faster to walk to than drive to, and it works well.