The Mitte district advocates banning bicycle traffic completely from the pedestrian zone on Friedrichstrasse. “If it were up to me, there would be no bicycles on Friedrichstrasse and only pedestrians,” said district mayor Stefanie Remlinger (Greens) on Wednesday evening at a residents’ event on the future of Friedrichstrasse.
Mitte’s transport councilor Almut Neumann (Greens) made a similar statement after observing the current situation along the pedestrian zone: “I also thought that some cyclists were not walking speed. We will monitor that.”
In contrast to the traffic attempt to redesign Friedrichstrasse, the wide cycle path in the middle of the roadway no longer exists since the section of road was de-designated. But even in the new pedestrian zone, cycling is not completely prohibited.
We regard the project as it is currently running as a failure. You have to end it.
Stefan Meinhold, Berlin-Brandenburg Trade Association
Although there is now a bicycle street for cyclists in Charlottenstraße, cyclists are still allowed to cycle through Friedrichstraße at walking pace – only most of them do not comply with this requirement.
At the discussion round organized by the “Save Friedrichstrasse” initiative, residents and representatives of associations once again expressed a great deal of criticism. “We see the project as it is currently running as a failure. You have to end it,” said Stefan Meinhold from the Berlin-Brandenburg trade association.
“We are basically in favor of pedestrian zones. This is an important means for a lively retail trade.” However, a constructive approach is advocated instead of an “ideology-driven project”, said Meinhold. Keeping changing small things only makes the situation worse.
Action alliance calls for a redesign of Friedrichstrasse
In view of the current situation on the street, the deputy chairman of the Dehoga Berlin hotel and restaurant association, Gerrit Buchhorn, spoke of “damage to the image of the city”. Nothing has improved since the redesign.
The spokeswoman for the action alliance, Anja Schröder, called for the previous measures to be withdrawn and instead to work on a fundamental redesign of the district. “You don’t make a promenade out of a street canyon.”
The road has a lot of potential due to the elimination of the bike lane. But it is not exhausted yet.
Middle Transport Councilor Almut Neumann (Greens)
Traffic Councilor Neumann, on the other hand, defended the pedestrian zone. “The road has a lot of potential due to the elimination of the bike lane. But it is not exhausted yet. Let’s see what this summer can bring.” Everywhere in Germany, inner cities were threatened with desolation. The measures are intended to prevent this.
Neumann pointed out that the current situation will not be the final state. “If we want to have a pedestrian zone there, you have to do some structural work there.” The district will work closely with the Senate on this.
The first events on Friedrichstraße for the summer have been set
“There is no place for opposing each other here, the district and Senate must now pull together on the question of how Friedrichstrasse will continue.” With a request for a meeting on this matter, she has already approached the new Senator for Transport, Manja Schreiner (CDU ) and the new transport councilor Claudia Stutz.
The Greens politician advocated calming traffic in other areas around Friedrichstrasse and Gendarmenmarkt. “We have a great place there, if we achieve more traffic calming there, I’m all for it.” Neumann, on the other hand, could not present any ideas for a more extensive concept.
Antje Osterburg from the planning office “bo_(backoffice)”, which coordinates the use of the pedestrian zone for the district, presented what was to happen on Friedrichstrasse in the coming weeks. The first event on Friedrichstrasse will be the Galeries Lafayette Beauty Night for Mother’s Day. The next date is the Fete de la Musique, during which a stage will be set up on the street. “We have an enchanting organizer who is dedicated to tango.”
Later in the summer there are the “Nights of French Films” organized by the Institute Francais, as well as a street food festival at the end of August. Osterburg emphasized that the planning is still preliminary. “We are still in the middle of the planning process.”
