Discovering Sustainable Transportation Abroad
As an American, living in cities that prioritize cars over pedestrians and cyclists is a normal occurrence. During the early spring of 2020, I was studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany, which was one of the first parts of the country designed to promote walking, biking, and transit systems. It didn’t take me long to notice the major transportation differences between there and America.
I never once used an automobile during my time abroad. There was a direct train to Freiburg that took me to the city center. From the station, I was able to jump on a tram which then brought me to my apartment about 15 minutes outside of the city. This experience made me realize how advanced and convenient a transportation system could be.
Freiburg from above, October, 2008.
Original photo taken by Rebecca Davies can be found here.
At first, I had a hard time navigating through the city and adjusting to this new way of life in Germany. Instead of using a car to get in and out of the city center, I could walk two minutes from my apartment to the tram stop, pay two Euros for a day pass and travel around all of Freiburg. A couple of days after my arrival, I decided to rent a bicycle. Instead of having wide car-oriented streets, the city has endless walk/bike lanes which encourage sustainable modes of travel, promotehealthy activities, and discourage driving. Most of the lanes are protected against traffic even though there are few cars on the streets. Every day I would travel in and out of the city by bike to my classes, the marketplace, and anywhere else I wished to go.
I was required to take a sustainable transportation class during my time abroad. One day, we traveled about 15 minutes outside of the city to a sustainable neighborhood called Vauban. This affordable housing community is built alongside the tram tracks and is almost completely closed off to cars. All the buildings are built to a low energy consumption standard (solar energy and wood chip burning). This makes it affordable and sustainable while also having safe streets that allow for biking and walking. The residents of this community have access to green spaces, gardens, walking paths, bike paths, hiking trails, and the tram system. The city wanted to make this community a model sustainable district that other cities and planners could look at as an example of excellent urban design.
Solar Settlement in the Vauban quarter in Freiburg, Germany.
Original photo taken in 2007 by Claire7373 can be found here.
The older city center is where most people work, shop, and eat. I would start my days biking or taking the tram to my classes, which finished around 1:00 p.m. The rest of the day I would often walk around the narrow cobblestone streets, go shopping in the marketplace, and sometimes go on a hike in the nearby Black Forest. This location is the most well-known and visited part of Freiburg due to the car-free streets that provide space for pedestrians and cyclists to wander. The hiking trails start right on the edge of the city, about 10 minutes from the University. My friends and I could walk to the trails and within minutes, be deep into the beautiful Black Forest. It was common to see people of all ages walking through the woods and enjoying their afternoons in nature. I remember asking some local students about the city and what aspects make it most desirable for them. They almost all mentioned the transportation system and the beauty of the city as their main reason for studying at the University of Freiburg.
My time in Freiburg was relatively short, but my understanding of transportation, city planning, and architecture completely changed. I was amazed how a small city in Southern Germany could develop such a successful sustainable transportation system that is equally accessible and affordable for everyone. It's hard to imagine America implementing similar projects in the future; however, I believe this type of infrastructure and urban development is necessary for our cities and people.
