Fewer cars and motorised traffic, more space for citizens and the environment - Car-free city centres are to make the difference in the future in Berlin and Stuttgart, but also in the French capital Paris, and prepare the cities for the green traffic turnaround. The so-called ZTL are finding their way into more and more countries.
More space to stroll, discover new shops and explore the neighbourhoods on foot through traffic-calmed and traffic-free areas - for locals and tourists alike. This is the trend that is increasingly emerging across Europe. In Italy and Spain, ZTLs (traffic-calmed zones) have been around for years. The German cities of Berlin and Stuttgart, but also Paris in neighbouring France, are currently planning their next steps to ban environmentally harmful car traffic from city centres in the future.
Last week, Berlin's Mitte district council gave the green light for the transformation of Hackescher Markt and adjacent streets into a pedestrian area. After the project proposal passed the scrutiny of several committees despite criticism from parties such as the CDU, FDP and AfD, it was now approved with 28 votes in favour and 15 against. "With up to 7500 visitors an hour, the shopping streets around Hackescher Markt are particularly suitable as a pedestrian area," explains the Green Party faction. As part of the project, the neighbourhood will soon be made more attractive and remain closed to car traffic. Only about residents and suppliers, as well as a few other exceptions, will still be able to drive in the zone. However, tram traffic will continue to exist in order to guarantee public transport services for all passengers.
It is not yet clear when the car-free zone will come into being. What is already clear, however, is the area it will cover in the future. The resolution states that the zone will start at Oranienburger Straße and extend to Große Hamburger Straße. It is precisely the section between Große Hamburger Straße and Monbijouplatz that is to be transformed into a pedestrian zone - as well as Neue Schönhauser Straße and Rosenthaler Straße up to Sophienstraße. Traffic calming is also planned for other streets in the district, but this is still in the planning stage.
Stuttgart is also taking steps against car traffic. The state capital of Baden-Württemberg is planning a superblock in the west of the city that is supposed to contribute to the traffic turnaround. Motorised vehicles will then be banned from the superblock in Augustenstraße from spring 2024. Car and truck drivers as well as delivery traffic will only be able to reach their destination via a diversion. An inconvenient solution for many behind the wheel, but not for residents and the environment. The concept, which has already been tested in other European cities such as Berlin and Barcelona, is mainly aimed at traffic calming. It is supposed to increase the quality of stay for citizens, create more green space for them - and above all reduce the pollution caused by traffic.
Even outside Germany, for example in the French capital, residents and tourists should soon be able to walk or cycle undisturbed - and no longer just on the first Sunday of the month, as is currently the case. Paris wants to further restrict car traffic in the city centre and drastically minimise the space available for it. A traffic-calmed zone is to be created in the heart of Paris as early as the beginning of next year - Mayor Hidalgo announced the other day. The initiative is the next step in the city's efforts to green traffic. With driving bans, car-free areas and the introduction of a 30 km/h zone almost everywhere in the city centre, the metropolis has been pushing ahead with the traffic turnaround for years.
Finally, numerous conurbations are increasingly taking stronger action against car traffic - in order to improve air quality and achieve the set climate targets. Berlin, Stuttgart and Paris are just some of the cities that are resorting to setting up car-free zones and green superblocks. How the traffic calming projects will go there, however, will influence policymakers across Europe and determine which direction they should take to bring their cities closer to a greener future. Only time will tell how much potential there really is in car-free neighbourhoods in terms of a traffic turnaround. But the mere view of a reduction in motor exhaust and thus pollution can only be good news for citizens and the environment. You can find out where in Europe ZTLs and environmental zones are being introduced here or in our Green Zones app.