Is car-free living in the city ever possible?

The Dhaka Times Desk If you can ask, is car-free living in the city ever possible? You might answer never possible. Because then how will people move in the city?

It is almost impossible to imagine our city without cars. But even in a car-crazy country like Germany, a city called Cologne has completely banned the entry of cars! The reason for this is that various ideas are being considered to limit the movement of vehicles in the big cities of the country. Nippes area of the city is known as the largest car-free zone!

For a car-crazy country like Germany, which is the world's top car maker, it's almost like a revolution. That's why children are playing on the road, roaming freely without any fear, instead of parking there is a playground! The people of this city have to go to the market with a wheelbarrow! But the whole week's market does not hold together. So people in the neighborhood buy fresh products almost every day!

Inga, a person from that area said, 'I didn't find it too difficult. Ride a bicycle, carry a rucksack on your back, hold the market in it. Bicycles also have baskets. But if you have something big like a bottle of drink, you have to borrow a wheelbarrow.'

Dr. Christian Pilar is head of transport research at the German aerospace company DLR. Like the rest of Germany, Cologne is completely dependent on cars. According to him, this situation should be changed. How is that possible? Dr. 'I think there is no golden egg for a city like Cologne,' says Pilar. That is, it is not possible to get a key, multiple steps have to be taken. Work should be started in the field of urban planning. The public transport infrastructure system needs to be further expanded. Also, more provision should be made for bicycles and pedestrians.'

However, the people of the area are doing well. Although there are some temporary problems, they are passing the day without a car. That is why the environment there is pollution free, noise free. Such an environment can be desired by all and it is probably natural.