Let’s Stop Pretending Things Haven’t Changed
Bourbon Street has always been open to cars. For decades, delivery trucks, taxis, locals, and tourists shared the same narrow space. That worked in another era. But the era has changed.
After the terror attack on New Year’s Day, when a man used a pickup truck to drive through the crowd, killing and injuring innocent people, the question isn’t if we need to make Bourbon safer—it’s how far we’re willing to go.
This isn’t about a random beating or street crime. It’s about domestic terrorism in a space that was once about joy. We have to adapt.
The Old Bourbon Is Over
In the past, Bourbon’s chaos was part of its charm. That chaos has now become a liability. Cars, bikes, scooters, drunk tourists, police units, and food vendors all weave through the same corridor. Every inch is a risk.
The NOPD asked a national firm to make recommendations about how to make Bourbon St. safe. They recommended making the first nine blocks of Bourbon St. a pedestrian only mall. The idea of closing the first nine blocks to cars—permanently—isn’t some radical scheme. It’s a logical response to the real threats we now face: weaponized vehicles, IEDs in trash cans, and soft-target terrorism.
Businesses Will Adjust—Like They Always Have
The biggest pushback comes from local businesses that rely on early-morning deliveries. That’s understandable. Change is hard.
But the new report recommends setting designated delivery times, likely in the early morning hours, before pedestrian traffic fills the streets. Similar systems work in cities like New York and Miami. If they can manage, we can too.
No one is saying businesses must suffer. We’re saying Bourbon Street must evolve. Public safety has to come first.
Is This Too Drastic?
Let’s be honest—this is a philosophical debate about who we are now.
Do we cling to nostalgia just because Bourbon “has always been this way”? Do we let the past handcuff the present? Or do we respond to new realities with new ideas?
Yes, there is a good argument to do nothing drastic. It’s disruptive. It’s unfamiliar. And yes, it will cause friction.
But there’s a better argument to do something bold. The kind of safety risks we now face didn’t exist in 1985. Back then, our biggest fear was a pickpocket, not a weaponized vehicle. The world changed. Bourbon didn’t. That gap is deadly.
It’s Not Just About Business
This is a values test. Are we willing to inconvenience delivery schedules to save lives? Are we willing to inconvenience ourselves—just a little—to ensure our most iconic street doesn’t become a crime scene again?
Some critics say the New Year’s terror is not a good enough reason for these changes. That changing to a pedestrian only mall will somehow decrease the appeal of Bourbon St. And tourism in the city will decrease. That’s nonsense. The real concern is the terror attack, the deliberate vehicular assault that showed the French Quarter is a vulnerable target.
That act of violence exposed the truth: the old way is no longer safe.
Let’s Do This Right
Here’s what the city should do now:
- Permanently close Bourbon from Canal to Dumaine to cars, 24/7.
- Allow delivery vehicles only between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., with street access blocked afterward.
- Create drop-off zones for ride-shares on Royal and Dauphine.
- Install retractable bollards, security cameras, and high-visibility lighting.
- Enforce strict no-scooter, no-bike rules inside the pedestrian zone.
This isn’t about punishing businesses. It’s about giving them a future where customers feel safe and eager to return.
A Better Bourbon is Within Reach
If we act now, Bourbon Street can be cleaner, safer, and more vibrant.
But if we sit on our hands, cling to tradition, and pretend a car barreling through a crowd on New Year’s Day wasn’t a warning sign—we’ll deserve the next tragedy that follows.
Tourists want to feel safe. Locals deserve to be safe. Bourbon Street has been through a lot, but it’s never had to face this kind of threat. Let’s meet the moment with courage and clarity.