pedestrian zone

Meaning

A pedestrian zone is an area in a town or city reserved exclusively for people walking, where vehicles are not allowed. It is commonly found in historic city centers or busy shopping districts to make walking safer and more pleasant for tourists and locals.

Examples

• The historic center of the city is a pedestrian zone, so we had to park our rental car outside the old walls.

  The historic center of the city is a pedestrian zone, so we had to park our rental car outside the old walls.

• I love sitting at outdoor cafes in the pedestrian zone because there is no traffic noise.

  I love sitting at outdoor cafes in the pedestrian zone because there is no traffic noise.

• Make sure you don't drive there; it was turned into a pedestrian zone last year.

  Make sure you don't drive there; it was turned into a pedestrian zone last year.

• We spent the afternoon wandering around the pedestrian zone, checking out the local shops.

  We spent the afternoon wandering around the pedestrian zone, checking out the local shops.

• Is this street a pedestrian zone, or do we need to watch out for cars?

  Is this street a pedestrian zone, or do we need to watch out for cars?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The city center is a pedestrians zone.

  ✓ The city center is a pedestrian zone.

  'Pedestrian' acts as a noun adjunct (adjective-like modifier) here, so it must remain singular, not plural.

• ✗ We walked in the pedestrian area zone.

  ✓ We walked in the pedestrian zone.

  'Pedestrian zone' and 'pedestrian area' are separate terms. Combining them into 'pedestrian area zone' is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You can't drive here; this entire shopping district is a ___.

  💡 An area reserved only for people walking.

  Show answer

  pedestrian zone

• We booked a hotel right in the heart of the ___ so we could walk everywhere.

  💡 A car-free area in a city center.

  Show answer

  pedestrian zone