Berlin referendum: car freedom comes closer!

Berlin referendum: car freedom comes closer!

Berlin, Deutschland - On June 25, 2025, the Berlin Constitutional Court ruled that the referendum “Berlin Auto -Frei” is permitted. The “Volksstscheid Berlin Auto-Frei” initiative is planning to largely ban private car traffic within the Berlin S-Bahn ring. This decision gives the initiative the opportunity to take further steps to a referendum in order to drastically reduce traffic in the city center. According to the plans, users are allowed to go to the city center for a maximum of twelve days a year.

The draft law, which was presented to the highest court in Berlin in 2022, stipulates that most streets in the S-Bahn ring are classified as “car-reduced”. Only federal highways, highways and pedestrian zones are excluded. The use of these car-reduced roads remains allowed for buses, emergency services, delivery and commercial transport as well as waste disposal. The proposed regulations should come into force after a four -year transition phase.

criticism and support of the referendum

The Berlin Senate has expressed concerns and classified the goal as constitutionally questionable. State Secretary Ute Bonde rejected a statement, while politicians such as Johannes Kraft from the CDU criticize the demands as "far too largely" and question the controllability of the regulations. In contrast, the initiative, represented by Marie Wagner, sees the need for a referendum in the lack of willingness to change the Senate.

Mobility researcher Andreas Knie thinks the goal of the referendum is correct, but the regulation of the free-driving contingent sees as too bureaucratic. Antje Kapek from the Greens demands more clarity about the admissibility of the referendum and criticizes the long waiting time for the judicial decision. Despite the political controversy, the activists of the initiative are optimistic and organized a celebration with DJ set to draw attention to the referendum.

Mobility of the future

The discussion about private car traffic in Berlin is part of a larger trend towards sustainable urban development. Concepts for sustainable mobility, as presented by the Federal Environment Agency in the vision "The City for Tomorrow", focus on reducing air pollution, noise emissions and surface consumption. Sustainable urban traffic design should ensure participation in social life without restricting mobility and goods transport, as the basics of the “Sustainable City Transport 2050” project illustrate.

In order to get a referendum rolling, at least seven percent of those entitled to vote, which corresponds to around 170,000 people, must register within four months. If the referendum is in a successful process, a referendum will follow that is like a regular choice.

The decisions and developments related to the referendum “Berlin car -free” are not only for the city, but also for the vision of sustainable mobility that improves the quality of life of the residents.

For more information: rbb24 href = "https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/REGERINAL/BERLIN/RBB-OBERSTES-BREIS-MEUCHENCHUNCHEICHEICHTEITEIT-UEBER-VOLKSSCHENSCHEIT-BERLIN-Berlin-autfrei-100.html"> Tagesschau href = "https://www.umweltbundamt.de/publikation/mobilitaetskonzepte-fuer-einen-nachtigen-0"> Environmental Federal Agency .