Blog & News

Category: Germany

Car-free model fails: Hanover goes back to pure cars

The Green mayor actually wanted to create a true miracle of transport policy. "Car-free" meant "no car too many" in the city. He wanted to reduce lanes, virtually abolish parking spaces in the city centre and focus on walking and cycling. The SPD has now pulled the ripcord and cancelled the coalition with the Greens. They want to focus on "low car use". This seems more like a paraphrase for "continuing the status quo".


More low emission zones and a crackdown on combustion engines? Federal government must act after court judgement

DUH and BUND have been proved right: The German government must take immediate countermeasures in the areas of transport and buildings in order to reduce CO2 emissions in both sectors. The government failed to meet its targets for 2021 and 22. Is there now a threat of more environmental zones and further measures to drastically reduce transport?


Biker shock: Lower Saxony bans combustion motorbikes on popular holiday route

A driving ban for combustion motorbikes through the back door - this is how bikers see the new pilot project in Lower Saxony. This is about noise reduction and only affects motorbikes with a stationary noise level of 90 decibels. However, this affects almost all combustion engines. Not only bikers feel cheated, the hotel industry in the area also sees itself jeopardised by the project.


For more climate protection: new lorry toll could also contribute to better air quality in cities

From December 2023, the lorry toll is to be linked to CO2 emissions. This is intended to incentivise more climate protection and reduce emissions. 200 euros will be due per tonne of CO2. The revenue from the toll is to be invested primarily in the railways in order to be able to transport more goods by rail again in future.


Camera System for Low Emission Zones: Surveillance State or Necessary Digitalisation?

As a pioneer in Germany, Munich wants to use camera systems for the first time to record environmental zone offenders and make them pay. In other countries, the monitoring of environmental zones has been digital for a long time. This makes them more reliable and tends to make the air cleaner. But in the case of Munich, there is much criticism.


Grossly negligent! DUH sues Munich over diesel driving ban

The city of Munich is once again facing legal action over the diesel driving ban. Deutsche Umwelthilfe and Verkehrsclub Deutschland have filed a lawsuit with the Bavarian Administrative Court. They call the suspension of the driving bans for Euro 5 a transparent election campaign manoeuvre.


Baden-Württemberg: many environmental zones abolished

More and more environmental zones are being abolished in Germany. This is now also the case in Baden-Württemberg in the south-west of the Federal Republic. The administration in Stuttgart wants to abolish 5 low emission zones from January 2024. The reason is the improved air quality. A dangerous step for the health of the residents.


Even without low emission zone: Hanover becomes car-free

The environmental zone in Hanover is being abolished. Nevertheless, Hannover wants to become a car-free model city: more space for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Those who do not depend on their cars will no longer be allowed to drive them into the city center. Parking spaces are to be eliminated completely. Car-free: in Hannover's case, that means "not one car too many in the city".