Berlin traffic transition: Court decides on the future of freedom of car!

Berlin traffic transition: Court decides on the future of freedom of car!

"Berlin car-free" the traffic transition in the capital and plans a drastic reduction in car traffic within the S-Bahn ring. The aim of this initiative is to improve the quality of life in Berlin by promoting safer roads, more green areas and a cleaner air. On April 2, 2025, the decisive court date was scheduled at the Berlin Constitutional Court, which is negotiated on the controversial draft law of the initiative. The spokeswoman Anna Baatz emphasizes: "The State Constitutional Court finally decides on the proportionality of car traffic in Berlin." The Senate had submitted this draft law for the examination in 2021, which now indicates the long queue of 3 years and 8 months, which had to survive the initiative, as well as Volkssttscheid Berlin reported

The initiative demands that only trips in the public interest, for example through rescue and nursing services, police and fire brigade, as well as for deliveries are approved. There should be special permits for people who rely on the car for health reasons. If the court approves the proposal, the second collection of signatures could begin in the summer of 2025. To do this, 175,000 valid signatures would have to be collected within four months in order to enable a referendum on the law on the common good -oriented road use. According to Anna Baatz, all Berliners are invited to campaign for more security and calm neighborhood, while the initiative criticizes the city's Senate for its political approach: "The Senate at the time blocked the traffic transition for political reasons and placed the supposed basic right on unlimited driving over the common good."

With this legal discussion, the wind could choose Berlin's transport policy. In the summer of 2021, the initiative collected over 50,000 signatures for the initiation of the referendum. Should the Constitutional Court give the green light, the Berliners would have the chance to actively determine the future traffic design in their city, which according to Berlin Live Mobility could represent.

Berlin Live