Dispute over Torstrasse: felling trees for new cycle paths in Mitte!

Dispute over Torstrasse: felling trees for new cycle paths in Mitte!

Torstrasse in Berlin-Mitte is about to undergo a fundamental renovation, which is not only intended to permanently change the traffic situation, but has also sparked heated discussions. The Senate, under the leadership of Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU), is planning to offer cyclists their own paths. This includes creating cycle lanes on the north and south sides of the road. But the plans are controversial: the felling of 29 trees and the reduction of parking spaces caused resistance, especially from the SPD, which distributed leaflets and pointed out the problem that 27 trees had to be felled, including three for the bicycle traffic facilities. City councilor for construction Ephraim Gothe (SPD) also expresses criticism of the planned approach and calls for new impulses for urban planning.

An information dialogue is promoted through two events. An official event will take place on November 19th at 6 p.m. at Brunnenstrasse 111, followed by a citizens' discussion by the Mitte district office on October 29th at 5 p.m. at Torstrasse 190. The renovation of Torstrasse will be carried out in two sections, starting with the western section between Chausseestrasse and Rosenthaler Platz, which is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and will take two years of construction.

Comprehensive cycle path planning

The entire project, which is considered a long-announced measure, is intended to relieve the current traffic situation in view of the heavy vehicle and tram traffic that endangers cyclists. Originally, the 2022 plans called for wider bike lanes and a complete reduction in car lanes was also considered. However, following the review in October 2023, it was decided to leave more space for car traffic, meaning the carriageway will continue to provide two lanes in each direction.

In the new concept, the plans not only include wider footpaths, but also barrier-free bus stops and integrated cycle paths in the pedestrian area. This means that parking spaces on the north side of Torstrasse will be eliminated to make room for the cycle lane. On the south side, the sidewalk will be narrowed to accommodate a high-side bike path. According to current plans, the roadway will be renewed to its existing width without adding additional lanes for car traffic.

Long-term effects and mobility transition

The redesign of Torstrasse corresponds to the goals of the mobility transition, which aims to make transportation in cities more environmentally friendly. This includes concepts to reduce motorized individual traffic in favor of pedestrians and cyclists. The Senate sees itself as having a responsibility to develop sustainable mobility solutions that also take into account the social needs of the population.

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) supports projects for sustainable urban and transport planning as part of the mFUND innovation initiative. The mobility transition is based on the principles of avoiding, shifting and improving mobility in order to create an infrastructure that promotes short distances for all road users. In Berlin, Torstrasse is one of the routes that, as a busy east-west connection, is intended to make a decisive contribution to the implementation of these principles.

The renovation of Torstrasse is therefore, on the one hand, a long overdue infrastructure project, and on the other hand, it will serve as a testing ground for new traffic strategies in the capital. The challenges are enormous, not least because of the broad discussion that the felling of trees and the reduction of parking spaces are triggering. However, the next steps are already being initiated through the planned information events.