Analysis: In German Suburb Life Goes On Without Cars

As the global concern for the environment increases with time, the desire to use cars decreases. People are aware that cars release fumes which, when combined, can be detrimental for the environment, and they want to do something about it. Elisabeth Rosenthal writes in her New York Times article, “In German Suburb, Life Goes on Without Cars”, that up to fifty percent of environmental greenhouse gas pollution comes from the cars driven in American suburbs. In her article, she quotes David Goldberg, an official of Transportation for America, that “All of our [the U.S.A.’s] development since World War II has been centered on the car, and that will have to change”. It seems like America, and the rest of the world, is becoming more aware about what …show more content…
Plaza said that, “It’s [limiting car usage] a good oppurtunity to take away stress and lower air pollution”. Many people are already doing this. Vauban, Germany, is a new “car-free” suburb. In this town, things are close together, just like a city, eliminating the need to use cars. It is not illegal to own a car in Vauban, but people who do must pay a heavy fine and pay for parking on the edge of the city that is also highly expensive. People in the German suburb get along fine without cars, because of the way the city was built. The idea of a “car-reduced” community appeals to the U.S. as well, and legislators and other government officials are trying to make it happen for the environment as well as the sake of the …show more content…
President Obama, according to Elisabeth Rosenthal in her article, “The End of Car Culture”, has “ambitious goals to curb the Unites States’ greenhouse gas emissions”. If the President of the United States is concerned, this means it is a real problem. The immense amount of greenhouse gases caused by cars has already aided Global Warming and the damage to the ozone layer that exists today. If car usage increases or holds steady, even more damage will be done, so much so that it may become unfixable in the future. If the world does not cut back now on its vehicle usage and reduce environmental damage, things will only get harder to fix. But things are looking good for Mother Nature, because according to all four articles given, including, “In German Suburb, Life Goes on Without Cars”, by Elisabeth Rosenthal, “Paris bans driving due to smog”, by Robert Duffer, “Car-free day is spinning into a big hit in Bogota”, by Andrew Selsky, and “The End of Car Culture”, by Elisabeth Rosenthal, people are already taking steps to reduce the use of cars and better the