South Hams Friends of the Earth

Vauban, Freiburg - just over half of the district is carfree.

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Here I am. Freiburg is a wonderful city for cycling. I have collected lots of material (although the time seems to be running out faster than I wanted) and taken many photographs. Vauban, the carfree district is pretty much as I expected. I am biased, but it does seem to me this shows a better way to live in the future. To give just one example, a neighbour here has just taken his two sons aged 7 and 5 on holiday. They are cycling straight out from home across the Rhine into France. Both of them are allowed to cycle pretty much where they like around the area where they live in Vauban.

Apart from the transport issue, Freiburg has some similarities with Totnes. People move here for lifestyle reasons. The largest single group of businesses in the Vauban local directory is alternative medicine/therapies.

I have suffered a bit with sickness, and also my right knee. I will be sending my camping gear home in the post, to reduce the weight before the big climb over les Vosges. It will be more expensive, but I will be staying in guest houses, and where available youth hostels, on the way back.