original article in N Y Times
Why can't we do this here?

It's Vauban, Germany (site of a former Nazi Army base),where people have given up their cars. All streets are car-free and there is a tram. Cars can be parked only in large garages at the edge of town, for those who buy a space when they buy their home. Thus 70% do not own cars and 57% sold one to move here. People claim to be less tense and they get more exercise and they can use communal cars to ski or go to IKEA, and pull carts behind bikes to go to the store. More than half voted for the Green party. It's a great thing in a country used to the Autobahn and home of Mercedes.
Suburbs are developing all over the world, which does not reduce greenhouse gas/global warming. Cars cause 12% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe and up to 50% in some areas of the United States, with post WW2 dream homes and beyond. We need better public transport to the suburbs rather than just focussing on highways. There are some experiments with car-reduction in the US, such as in the Oakland area (connecting to BART.) Europe and the UK have more such projects in development.
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