Parts of Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse will be pedestrian zones from Monday morning. According to the transport administration, the officially required “order for rezoning” was published in the official gazette on Friday and will therefore apply from Monday. The relevant 500 meter long section between Leipziger Straße and Französischer Straße will then be permanently closed to car traffic. Cyclists should use the parallel Charlottenstrasse, which has been a cycle lane since November last year.
Mobility Senator Bettina Jarasch (Greens) announced the measure last Wednesday in the middle of the election campaign – and thus provoked a lot of criticism within the coalition.
According to the mobility administration, there should initially be a one-week conversion phase. Among other things, seating should be set up. Information points at the entrances to the pedestrian zone should explain the rules that apply there. There is also a parking ban on the section from Monday. Greening is also planned for spring. In a further step, the long-term redesign of the car-free section is to be tackled, which Jarasch estimates will take several years.
The section, which is now becoming a pedestrian zone, had already been closed to cars from August 2020 as part of a traffic test. At that time, wide bike lanes were set up in both directions in the middle of the road for cyclists. Seating and relaxation areas for pedestrians were created on the sides. The project ended in October 2021. However, the ban for cars remained in place after the end of the trial.
Clear protests against Jarasch’s plans
The Berlin Administrative Court upheld a lawsuit. At the end of November, the section for cars was initially released again. However, Jarasch announced immediately afterwards that it should be rededicated as a pedestrian zone.
There have already been clear protests against this in the past week. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Berlin accused Jarasch of actionism. CDU top candidate Kai Wegner described the decision for the pedestrian zone as a mistake, FDP parliamentary group leader Sebastian Czaja as the “next mess” against “all resistance and against the interests of the local people”.
The Berlin-Brandenburg trade association (HBB) criticized the decision as an election campaign and as a missed opportunity to shape the center of Berlin together. Together with the Berlin Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Action Alliance Save Friedrichstrasse, the HBB wants to provide information on Monday about the effects on tradespeople and residents.
Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) described the short-term announcement of the pedestrian zone as a ill-considered solo effort by the Senator and accused Jarasch that the Senate had not agreed on this. (dpa)
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