Berlin focuses on safety: The first pedestrian traffic plan is here!

Berlin focuses on safety: The first pedestrian traffic plan is here!

On November 22, 2025, Berlin took an important step in the city's mobility strategy with the first draft of the pedestrian traffic plan. The plan, which was presented by Ute Bonde, Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, aims to offer pedestrians more safety and comfort and improve the quality of stay in public spaces. What is particularly noteworthy is that the draft was completed in 2024 after an intensive participation phase and the most common form of transport in Berlin, walking, is now finally being planned systematically, explained the experts from entwicklungsstadt.de.

A central concern of the design is to increase safety for pedestrians. Binding standards for sidewalks, crossings and traffic monitoring should be developed. The districts will receive support to develop a priority network for pedestrian traffic. This all happens in the context of “Vision Zero”, an approach that aims to reduce the number of traffic accidents involving pedestrians to zero.

Model projects and challenges

The report on the pedestrian traffic plan was approved at the meeting of the Berlin Senate on September 9, 2025. Twelve model projects were selected, one per district. These projects are at different stages of progress: while some have already been implemented, others are still in the planning phase. Tasks such as the presentation of the implementation status, the analysis of delays and the development of costs and desired co-financing through funding are the focus, as berlin.de reports.

However, the implementation of the projects is delayed in some cases due to the budget situation and capacity constraints of the districts. These challenges pose major tasks for both planners and those responsible, as pedestrian traffic is very important in Berlin, especially for women, children and older people. According to mobilitaetsforum.bund.de, over 80 percent of Germans aged 14 and over like to travel on foot, with one in three journeys being completed on foot.

Strategic goals and measures

The pedestrian traffic plan is not only a response to current requirements, but also part of Berlin's comprehensive mobility strategy. In addition to safety, measures such as wider sidewalks, eliminating tripping hazards and improving crossing options on main roads are also on the agenda. The plan promotes barrier-free design of sidewalks to make access easier for older people, families with strollers and people with mobility limitations. For this purpose, the city planners have identified a network of paths of around 7,000 kilometers and important sections for pedestrian traffic using a GIS-supported process.

In addition, urban planning aspects are also taken into account in order to enhance the cityscape and create new lounge areas. Green design through more city trees and shady places should also contribute to climate adaptation. The results of the numerous participation phases show a strong interest in better pedestrian traffic planning, which is supported by the upcoming pedestrian traffic congress and many other initiatives. These measures are of fundamental importance for Berlin's future transport policy.