Streets before carsAt the beginning of the 20th century, before the massive proliferation of cars, most roads were traditionally freely available to all. They were truly public roads, as the following pictures clearly demonstrate:
Dog Kennel Hill, London SE22, circa 1900. Then and now.
Whitehall, London, circa 1900. Then and now.
Fleet Street, London, 1890.
Blackfriars Bridge, London, circa WWI. Then and now.
Old Market Street, Bristol, circa 1900.
Southsea Common, Portsmouth, circa 1900.
Abbey Wood, London, circa 1900.
Deptford, London, circa 1910.
Redhill, Surrey 1906. Then and now.
Mpeg movie showing freedom of pedestrian access to roads during the steam tram era.
Amersham Road, London SE14, 1905. Then and now.
Courthill Road, London SE13, 1903. Then and now.