Hamburg’s Plan to Eliminate Cars in 20 Years

Hamburg’s Plan to Eliminate Cars in 20 Years

Vanessa Quirk, Arch Daily
About 40% of the area of Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany, is made up of green areas, cemeteries, sports facilities, gardens, parks and squares. For the first time ever, the city has decided to unite them together via pedestrian and cycle routes. It’s all part of the “Green Network Plan,” which aims to eliminate the need for vehicles in Hamburg over the next 20 years.

According to city spokeswoman Angelika Fritsch, the project will help to turn the city into a one-of-a-kind, integrated system: “Other cities, including London, have green rings, but the green network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre. In 15 to 20 years you’ll be able to explore the city exclusively on bike and foot.”
(7 January 2014)
Link to Hamburg's Green Network Plan (in German)
Lots going on in Hamburg. The city also recently voted to buy back it's power supply from Swedish energy giant Vattenfall.

Photo: FxJ

Cars:

1. Kills street life
2. Damages the social fabric of communities
3. Isolates people
4. Fosters suburban sprawl
5. Occupies common land with parking lots
6. Endangers other street users
7. Blots the city's beauty
8. Disturbs people with its noise
9. Dazzles people with its lights
10. Causes air pollution
11. Slaughters thousands every year
12. Destroys nature
13. Exacerbates global warming
14. Wastes energy and natural resources
15. Impoverishes nations