Was it actually popular?

Madrid elected a right-wing local government in the recent May elections. The parties involved promised this as part of their electoral campaigns. Car drivers who live on the outskirts and had to enter the central part of the city were furious about the banning of vehicles, even though it was for the greater good.

It's a crying shame because Madrid has good public transport. It needs more investment to keep up with increasing demand, and all the left-wing parties had that in their election manifestos. Now the local government will be "investing" in cars, which benefits the few and harms us all.

Culture wars. It’s ridiculous what people start opposing once the other side starts liking it. See, for example, those rednecks manipulating their trucks in the US South to spew as much soot as possible.