NY Times: In German Suburb, Life Goes on Without Cars

flickerx

"Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the French and Swiss borders. Vauban’s streets are completely “car-free” — except the main thoroughfare, where the tram to downtown Freiburg runs, and a few streets on one edge of the community. Car ownership is allowed, but there are only two places to park — large garages at the edge of the development, where a car owner buys a space, for $40,000, along with a home.

As a result, 70 percent of Vauban’s families do not own cars, and 57 percent sold a car to move here. “When I had a car I was always tense. I’m much happier this way,” said Heidrun Walter, a media trainer and mother of two, as she walked verdant streets where the swish of bicycles and the chatter of wandering children drown out the occasional distant motor."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/earth/12suburb.html?_r=1&ref=world

CheGuedara

Sounds like it's like some kind of cycling utopia...



Parking's a bit haphazard but evidently the only people that have to lock their bikes are 4yr olds to stop other 4yr olds taking them