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In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars

By jimw ⋅ May 30, 2009 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Tags: cars, Germany

VAUBAN, Germany — Residents of this upscale community are suburban pioneers, going where few soccer moms or commuting executives have ever gone before: they have given up their cars. 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/earth/12suburb.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&em

Nice photos in the slideshow and some mention of other reduced-car communities too.

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