The arrangement of the walking routes on Istiklal Avenue altered rapidly in the past 30 years. The avenue was divided by the cars until early 1980s. The pedestrian and car circulation used to dominate the rhythm of the avenue. The first shift appeared with the pedestrianization of the avenue. By the 1990s the avenue was organized along the tram road with the help of the different paving patterns and the row of trees which gave the avenue a harmonious order of rhythm; the users strolling on the avenue were using both sides of the trees while the ones who were in a hurry were using the tramline as a fast track, intersecting with the tram from time to time. The trees on the avenue are removed in 2006 and the paving changed into a monotype. Today the avenue doesn't have its harmonious order system but instead it has a monotonous rhythm of mass of people.
It is not the existence of the trees but their lack which causes an obstruction in the public space.
