Over two years ago we covered how a community of progressive people took it upon themselves to plan their own community in the outskirts of Freiburg, Germany, Beta community designs a neighborhood their way in Germany. Here’s an update on the 5500 resident neighborhood, known as Vauban.

One of the striking characteristics in Vauban is the focus on pedestrians and de-emphasis on cars.  70% of Vauban’s families do not own cars, and 57% sold a car to move here.  Streets are predominantly car free, and parking is situated in only two designated parking garages.  A tram runs right through the neighborhood into downtown Freiburg.  Many residents use bicycles with cart trailers for shopping trips, and use a car sharing club for longer trips.

Read more in the NY Times article, Germany Imagines Suburbs Without Cars, about how other projects have been inspired to be more pedestrian-focused.

Photo by Vauban, Freiburg, Germany by rethinkingchildhood.