The Electoral Effects of Banning Cars from the Streets: Evidence from Barcelona’s Superblocks

This paper examines the local electoral effects of Barcelona's Superblocks pedestrianization policy, an initiative aimed at reducing car traffic and air pollution while enhancing urban livability. Using census tract-level data from local elections, we analyze its impact on support for the incumbent mayor. We find a significant increase in votes in tracts directly affected by the policy, which also extends to neighboring areas. Traffic was not displaced to adjacent tracts, which also saw reduced pollution, suggesting that concerns about congestion did not materialize and may explain the absence of electoral backlash. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effects are stronger in tracts with higher levels of education and that they are not affected by gentrification or mobility disruptions. Overall, our results highlight that voters respond to localized improvements in traffic, air quality, and public spaces, offering insights into the political economy of urban climate policies and public support for green interventions.