Berlin’s Bürgerinitiative Volksentscheid Berlin autofrei has proposed a new law that would restrict private car use in the city. The law would allow only twelve private car trips per year for transporting heavy or bulky goods or for vacation travel, and this number would be reduced to six after ten years. The initiative aims to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, which are largely caused by the transportation sector. According to the German government, the transportation sector is responsible for 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, with 94% of those emissions coming from road traffic. The initiative hopes to improve the quality of life in the city, which has been plagued by traffic congestion in recent years.
To achieve its goal, the initiative has proposed a radical solution that would limit private car use in the city. Within the S-Bahn ring, only twelve private car trips per year would be allowed for transporting heavy or bulky goods or for vacation travel. After ten years, this number would be reduced to six. The initiative would make exceptions for public transportation, delivery vehicles, emergency services, and people with mobility impairments. The initiative has planned a public petition to gather support for the proposed law. The petition must collect at least 20,000 signatures between April and September 2021 to initiate the public referendum. If the referendum is successful, the law would be put to a public vote in 2023.
The initiative hopes that the proposed law will improve the quality of life in the city by reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. If the referendum is successful, Berlin would become the largest car-restricted city center in the world, covering 88 square kilometers. The initiative’s proposal is part of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in cities around the world.
