Freiburg is fighting to become walkable after being resigned for cars post-WWII

Thirty years ago today, I moved to Freiburg, where I lived for 26 years. So today, I celebrate that anniversary with this video!
Freiburg is one of the most walkable cities in Germany, but it is fighting to undo decades of car-centric urban planning. It is home to one of the strongest cycling campaigns in Germany and recently doubled the size of its pedestrian zone. In this video, we look at some old photos to see what car-centric damage has been undone.

[@phil_the_explorer3068]

Thanks for another great report. It reallt seems that the 50s-60s-70s were a crazy time for urbanism, all over thr Western world, where they just went crazy with cars and concrete. How can anyone think that those concrete sad buildings look better than the beautiful historical ones with towers and bricks and ornaments...

[@phillipoga]

I love these videos, please continue making them. I lived in Koblenz for a few months last year and these videos offer a sense of authenticity that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere.

[@cities4people]

Thanks, Phillip!

[@annebraun581]

German here… gets me going when I see this… meaning almost always brings me close to tears… How lush this brewery picture with the old trees and tables with small chairs looked!

[@Harpunius]

Awesome videos, thank you.

[@ronwagoner8358]

Living in the USA, I find this video ironic because the "car-centricity" of Freiburg looks wonderful to me in the sense I could only wish for the bike lanes, walk paths, etc where I live! We don't even have sidewalks!!!

[@cities4people]

I feel you, Ron!

[@kehalimakonnen9955]

I lived in Hamburg Germany for many years and loved it.I went to school and worked for so long and I like Hamburg and it's people very polite etc. What I want to say is that is about Heidelberg I been there there a couple of times .It's very beautiful University town too many students clean place wherever you go I recommend that city to be visited by students and tourist who love Germany .thanks

[@holzaepfeljens]

Danke an alle Beteiligten für diesen eindrücklichen Film!

[@somekek6734]

Wow, sehr sehr gutes Video!

[@NeonNion]

Excellent video! Thank you so much for this! I especially love the final words, so well said.

[@jamalgibson8139]

I love your videos. From an American perspective, these videos are great to show off that car centric design isn't just an American problem, and what it does to even old European cities. Hopefully your channel continues to grow and more people learn about the problems with car centric design!

[@clare2385]

I've lived in Freiburg since 2018 and this is the best video I've seen about this city. Almost everyday I walk to university because I enjoy to move around a bit before my day starts and after my day ends. I walk along Kronenstraße and I cross Kronenbrücke. Right before and after Kronenbrücke the sounds and smells are most disruptive and I have to wait at a traffic light on each side. If I'm calling someone they can't hear my voice and we have to wait until I can cross. In summer, there's barely any protection from the sun at heat alongside Kronenstraße and it's impossible for me to continue my walking ritual. I really love taking walks to university but it could also be so much more pleasant.

[@cb7560]

Great video. I know Freiburg well, but never knew this. I thought all of the crap was built was because of the bombing! Given how Frankfurt has reconstructed some of its old Altstadt, it would be nice to see Freiburg close this road, and rebuild the whole area as it once was.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

7:01 I would DIE to have this amazing network of underground bicycle paths in the United States. To me, THIS looks GOOD! But, I understand your point: it was all to pander to cars above them.

[@s0nY2]

Muss sagen eure Videos sind echt toll mich würde es freuen wenn ihr so einen bericht auch mal über Gießen macht. Was hier Passiert sollten auch mehr Menschen sehen es ist ein schönes vorbild für viele Städte

[@fahrrad5236]

7:01 Ich fühle diese Aussage. 😞

[@f112]

5:29 no it was where the white car is

[@cities4people]

correct!

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

8:25 Well, Germans could simply give up drinking beer.