For instance, my host family does not own a car. Instead they bike or take the trams and buses.
I really enjoy taking public transportation here in Dresden. It is very punctual and the trains, buses and trams are always very clean. I live about 30 minutes away from the school where I teach, so I use the S-Bahn everyday in Dresden to commute to my school in Pirna. To get to the S-Bahn station, I walk 10 minutes from my apartment. Then, after I get off the train in Pirna, I walk another 15 minutes to school. I enjoy the walking portions of my commute because it helps me get some extra exercise during the day, and I feel like I get a better sense of what's going on in my community by walking down the street. The smell of freshly-baked bread from the bakeries always wakes me up in the morning during my walks!
If it is raining or very cold outside, I can take a tram from my apartment to the train station instead of walking. The tram only takes about five minutes. There are also buses in Pirna that I could take from the S-Bahn station to my school. However, since the weather is still nice here, I prefer walking.
Germany has a very environmentally conscious culture and they also tend to prioritize efficiency in everyday life. I think the well-developed and frequently-used public transportation systems here, as well as the popularity of biking and walking, both demonstrate the importance that many Germans place on reducing pollution and on efficiency of transportation. Many Germans are also health-conscious and value getting exercise everyday and spending time outdoors.
