Berlin: Free traffic for Friedrichstraße
After a little more than two years of a car blockade in Berlin's Friedrichstraße, cars are now free to drive between Leipziger Straße and Französischer Straße. This was the decision of the Berlin Administrative Court.
On Tuesday, 25 October 2022, the court ordered in an emergency decision that car traffic on the popular shopping street must be reopened, at least temporarily. Within two weeks, all restrictive traffic signs must be removed.
The complaint was filed by the owner of a wine shop in the parallel street. Like many traders in and around Friedrichstraße, she would suffer a massive loss of income because customers would no longer be able to come by car.
The basis for the closure, which the authority of the Senator for Transport (Greens) had stated, was the intended improvement of the quality of stay. In fact, seating for passers-by has been installed in the street, but a problem for the quality of stay is the cycle track in the middle of the lane, which does not guarantee safe crossing.
However, according to the court, the quality of stay is not sufficient as a reason for a closure. There is no overall urban planning concept and no danger to safety that could justify such action.
The decision will therefore certainly have an impact on the capital's planned car-free districts. Popular shopping streets such as Tauentzienstrasse or the area around Hackescher Markt are to become car-free in the next few years. From 2024, Oranienstraße in Kreuzberg will no longer allow cars through. All these plans and initiatives now have to be re-examined so that the measures cannot be revoked again as in Friedrichstraße. The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg can now still appeal against the decision. Because one thing is certain, this ruling means a win for car traffic and a defeat for the environment.