Some more progressive countries realised quite early that the car would eventually bring with it issues that couldn't be resolved with simply expanding roads and parking. The Dutch half way through the 70s projected the growth to it's natural conclusion and started it's transformation projects fairly early so that culturally they are more accepting of transformations they have made to city centres, so that economically they see benefits in retail and productivity through ease of commuting. It is not unusual for Northern European cities to have 50% of commutes done by bike, and over 80% done by either public transport, bike or walking.
Brighton centre could be transformed into a great European style pizza and avenues stretching from the station to the sea front, chairs and tables spilling out around a pedestrianised Clock Tower and Churchill Square. Retail would be boasted and you could start to have markets and other offerings that online shopping simply cannot offer. Can the mentality of 'where will I park my car' be transformed?
Cars driving in and through the North Laine's says it all.
There's hardly enough room for pedestrians and yet everybody is supposed to make room for one person in a tonne of metal polluting the air.