My exchange from UWE Bristol to ENSA Paris-La Villette taught me that sustainable travel is not only about reaching a destination with fewer emissions. It is also about how we move through, consume and understand a place once we arrive.
Paris is a beautiful city and is best discovered on foot or by bicycle. Early in on my exchange, I’ve found a bicycle repair shop and managed to get a broken vintage bicycle for free. Instead of buying a new one or allowing it to become waste, I repaired it and gave it a second life. Cycling then became my main way of experiencing Paris. Rather than being confined to metro carriages and stations, I discovered its canals, neighbourhood streets, parks and changing architecture at street level. I also walked and used the metro, tram, bus and RER, avoiding car travel where it was possible. I used https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr to plan low-carbon journeys. When my exchange ended, I disassembled the bicycle and brought it back to the UK so that I could continue using it.
This relates to UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which promotes inclusive and sustainable cities and transport and Goal 12, which encourages waste prevention, repair and reuse. Information about the Goals is available at https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
I applied the same approach when exploring France. I subscribed to SNCF’s MAX Jeune scheme for €79 per month. It provided discounted travel and €0 reservations on selected trains, making repeated rail journeys more affordable. This allowed me to discover more of France while choosing trains rather than internal flights or car travel. I used https://www.sncf-connect.com to plan journeys and intend to continue making rail my default for European travel wherever practical. I also compare transport emissions through ADEME’s calculator at https://impactco2.fr. These decisions support the Goal 13: Climate Action by turning environmental awareness into practical travel choices.
My architectural studies made me consider sustainability beyond personal carbon emissions. In one project, I proposed adapting Bercy’s former refrigerated railway station for new public and logistical uses while retaining its existing structure. Reuse offered an alternative to unnecessary demolition and construction.
My dissertation, “Green Renewal = Green Exclusion?”, examined whether environmental improvements around La Villette can contribute to rising desirability and the exclusion of existing residents. This connects sustainability with Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. A city is not truly sustainable if greener spaces benefit only those who can afford to remain there.
I transformed this research into a guided walking tour and brochure through La Villette. I intend to publish the tour and key dissertation findings so that future students and visitors can explore Paris slowly while thinking critically about environmental improvement, architecture and social justice. You can see my published brochure here: https://issuu.com/a.galin/docs/green_renewal_green_exclusion_
My exchange showed me that sustainable travel can begin with something as simple as repairing a discarded bicycle. Its impact becomes greater when everyday choices change how we travel, what we value and what we share with others.
