risk avoidance

Stiletto heels transmit a large amount of force in a small area, and are therefore often strengthened by a metal tube, into which is inserted a metal or hard plastic tip. The great pressure transmitted through such a heel (greater than that exerted by an elephant standing on one foot) can cause damage to carpets and floors. The heel will also sink into lawns, making high heels impractical for outdoor wear.--Wikipedia

Rendering this pedestrian mall safe for wearers of heels dictated the massive expenditure of public funds.
The state controls many aspects of individual behavior. Was a "no heels" ordinance an option?