A campaign to curb car use in the centre of Berlin has been met with criticism across the political spectrum in Germany.
The “traffic referendum” citizens’ initiative wants to limit car use within the city’s S-Bahn ring, a 34-square-mile area equivalent to the London Underground’s zone one and zone two.
Citizens would have to apply online for a maximum of 12 trips per year in the area.
Verkehrsunterscheid, the group behind the plan, drafted a law which was ruled permissible by Berlin’s constitutional court in 2025. A referendum will be triggered if 240,000 signatures are reached by May.
But from Right to Left, politicians are disavowing the proposals, which are proving divisive in the German capital before Senate elections in September.
Kai Wegner, the mayor of Berlin, has sharply criticised the initiative, saying the city “doesn’t need lifestyle experiments”.
“Car ban. Banned” has already become a core slogan of his own reelection campaign.
The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) opposes a car ban, despite acknowledging that the referendum must take place if sufficient signatures are collected.
Even the Green Party has stopped short of supporting a car ban and only the fringe Animal Protection party is helping to collect signatures.
Berlin mayor Kai Wegner is aware congestion is a problem – Clemens Bilan/EPA/Shutterstock
The automotive industry forms a strong part of German identity, with carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen remaining pillars of the economy.
Peter Mair, a Berlin Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician, told the Financial Times: “Germany is an auto-nation. It’s how people identify themselves – not just with their car, but with what it represents: the power of German industry.”
But Berlin has long been culturally distinct from the rest of the nation.
Fewer residents inside Berlin’s S-Bahn ring own a car than those in comparable areas of London and Paris, with the younger generation moving sharply towards public transport, a trend accentuated as fuel costs continue to rise with the conflict in Iran and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Instead of bans, more offers are needed, especially in local public transport,” Mr Wegner, a member of the CDU, said.
‘City of freedom’
Having campaigned for the expansion of cycle lanes in the past, the mayor is aware that congestion is a problem.
But a party statement pointed out that “Berlin is the city of freedom”, which includes freedom of choice on how to move around.
If a referendum is triggered, the law under consideration would still permit inner-city road use for delivery drivers, emergency services and disabled car users.
Those who rely on cars for work would have to apply for special permits to drive.
Verkehrsunterscheid argues the ban is the most effective way to improve air quality and safety in Germany’s capital.
But Mr Wegner fears an outright ban would have a detrimental knock-on effect for Berlin’s economy.
The capital has struggled to compete with other German cities such as Munich and Frankfurt since Germany’s reunification, and limiting car use could only hamper its growth.