This New York Times Article, “Creating a car-free community,” got me thinking. Vauban, Germany, is an intentionally designed community that discourages driving, with only two parking spaces on the edge of town and only 30% of families owning a car. Is such a community possible in the U.S.?
We have a good share of car-free areas, like Portland’s RiverPlace, Michigan’s Mackinac Island (a hotel “taxi” in Mackinac pictured below), or even State Street in Madison. But what about an entirely car-free community?
The infrastructure of many U.S. cities would make being “car-free” nearly impossible. I traveled to Berlin, Germany, in high school, and returned to my suburban home determined to walk, bike, and use public transit more. It didn’t last. I biked on side streets to work a few miles away. But venturing out further by foot, bike, or public transit was nearly impossible. I couldn’t even get a bus to the shopping mall, there are no bike lanes, and bike paths are reserved for parks and forest preserves, most of which are on the outskirts of town.
Would most Americans even want a car-free community like Vauban? And if so, is it possible?
How’s the infrastructure in your city? Could you go car-free, and would you want to?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
To learn more about how we measure the ease of getting around a city – from walkability to public transit – check out this video about our Around Town index.