Posted on 01/28/2014 9:59:34 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine
Germany, home of the high-speed autobahn, is perhaps one of the few countries that has had as intense a love affair with the automobile as the U.S. But in an effort to go green, the country's second-largest city is studying ways to eliminate cars by 2034.
The northern city of Hamburg has laid out an initial concept, named the Green Network Plan, that would expand public transportation and add more routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. The most controversial aspect of the plan calls for a steady phase-out of automobiles in the center of the city over the next two decades.
And Hamburg might not be alone. The idea of banning, or at least reducing, the use of automobiles in city centers has become an increasingly hot topic among urban planners, especially in Europe and other industrialized countries dealing with issues as diverse as congestion and smog.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
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Hamburg, Germany, to ban cars in 2034
http://www.leftlanenews.com/hamburg-germany-to-ban-cars-in-2034.html
Much easier to keep those immobile Serfs in line.
That’s right!
I see this happening in Seattle and Portland within the next 10 or so years.
Soon you will need a license from the EPA to own an internal combustion engine.
In fact cars are all but banned in German cities already.
Parking costs are ridiculously expensive and it is really hard to find a parking space anyway.
On the other hand U-bahn, S-bahn are really cool. In Munich you can get into any place to another under 40 minutes.
Cars are too private— it’s much better for enforcement if all of the serfs are squeezed through police checkpoints.
I remember that driving a rental car around central Cologne on a workday is.. stressful. Bikes and pedestrians everywhere and space is limited.. doesn’t suprise me that most EU and UK cities will be doing this..
Walking around places like old city and the cathedral area is
make it a great place for tourists.. people socialize and its really quite pleasant.. my favorite German city...
I loved walking around Amsterdam, but you definitely have to watch out for the folks on the bicycles.
Good! More gasoline for me!
That idea works if the center of the city has a very intensive public transit system—for example, Tokyo with its very extensive commuter rail and subway system. Problem is, American cities are a lot more “spread out” and that makes the idea not very practical.
Beat you to it.
But many city and national politicians absolutely love the Europeon way of doing things and do their best to institute the Europeonization of America daily.
Evaluation of Lane Reduction “Road Diet” Measures on Crashes
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/10053/
Of course they'll make what goes on in my town/city their business.
If cars were banned cities would become much less spread out as local demand for services would draw businesses closer.
Of course powerful zoning boards would make that illegal.
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