Berlin on Verge of Creating Gigantic Car-Free Zone - CleanTechnica

Berlin is on the verge of establishing a massive car-free zone in its city center, potentially becoming one of the largest pedestrian and bike-friendly urban areas worldwide. The proposed zone would be bounded by the Ringbahn, a 22-mile railway encircling central Berlin, making it larger than Manhattan. This initiative, led by the Volksentscheid Berlin Autofrei campaign since 2020, aims to significantly reduce private automobile traffic in the core of the city, promoting human-powered transport like walking and biking to enhance livability and environmental sustainability. Despite strong opposition from pro-car groups and legal challenges from the Berlin Senate—who argued the proposal was unconstitutional, causing a three-year delay—the initiative is moving forward. A recent court decision has cleared procedural hurdles, allowing the campaign to resume signature collection and potentially hold a referendum in 2026. Advocates see this as a crucial step toward transforming Berlin’s transport policy and aligning it with other global cities like Paris and Bogotá, which have successfully reclaimed public spaces for pedestrians and