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.