London btw is actively trying to discourage car usage, almost every main street has had lanes taken out and pavements widened, and the remainder has bus lanes put in too, central reservations and bike lanes.
This one is Piccadilly, once a 5 lane stroad, now 2 lanes - the one on far left is a bus/ taxi lane, the last on the right has recently been resurfaced as pavement:
Likewise Regent Street
Oxford St - look at the far right and the difference in paving slabs. That's how narrow the pavement used to be back in the day (despite hosting half a million visitors a day)
Even planted blimming trees
It's not congested because car usage is high but because the council is making it as hellish as possible to drive.
The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) charges $15.20 daily for any car entering that is above a certain limit, on top of the $18.20 for congestion charging. Parking is $8.75 per hr, $6 for electric vehicles and impossible to find:
I wouldn't be surprised if next on the horizon for the indentured driver is they have to drive everywhere in reverse, or wear red clothing, or be naked.