More than 50,000 people have signed a citizens initiative to ban private car use in a 34-square mile zone around central Berlin.
The initiative, started by campaigners Berlin Autofrei, would have motor vehicles removed in an area surrounded by the S-Bahn ring trainline, forming what would be the largest car-free urban area in the world. The proposed exclusion zone is the same size as the total area covered by London travel-zones one and two.
Drivers would be allowed 12 rented car journeys per year in the area, but looser restrictions would apply to drivers with restricted mobility, delivery drivers, emergency services and those who require vehicles for commercial purposes.
The ban would come into effect after a "reasonable transition period", with the goal of improving health, air quality and safety. The plans would also have parking spaces turned into flowerbeds in a series of modifications aimed at creating a more social street environment for all ages.
Electric vehicles would also be banned, as the campaign group says these pose some similar issues to their ICE counterparts, including pollution through tyre wear.
“We would need about half of cars to go electric next year in order to meet the federal government’s own targets for transportation emissions,” campaigner Nik Kaestner told The Guardian.
“That clearly isn’t going to happen; currently only 1.3% of vehicles in Germany are electric. So the only solution is to reduce the amount of driving that’s happening, not just to change how we drive.”
As part of the campaign, Berlin Autofrei is also requesting cheaper public transport (with hopes of it becoming completely free in the future), comprehensive parking management, additional green spaces and the promise of no new expressways in the city.
The campaign has so far received 50,333 signatures.
The group is making use of a form of direct democracy with a three-part process. Stage one requires 20,000 signatures and stage two 170,000 signatures. The proposed law is then sent to public vote if the government refuses to enact it.
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Bunch of communist totalitarians decide that how they live is perfect, and so every other person should be forced to live exactly the same way.
I'd laugh because it's funny, but there are a lot of people in the UK with the same mindset. There will be violence from this. Throughout recent history, it's never ended well when one small group starts to force their worldview on others.
i read it Colonel, its embarassing some of the mname calling that goes on. Lefty loons etc...
Sounds like quite a nice idea, even if you live in the centre. You just adapt to the new way of living and enjoy the cleaner air and quieter streets.
Change doesnt have to be for the worse, and certainly won't impact these unfortunate people hear, so why they so b utt hurt?
@289, calm down petal and perhaps read the whole article. This proposal is the very definition of taking people with you. If it goes through the processes and the government do not choose to pick it up it will go to a referendum so, if enacted, it will be through a vote of an approving majority.
You approve of that, surely? Or, perhaps, because it's something you dislike, it'll just be the idiots?
Idiot, indeed.