Shaping the future of mobility in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

In the current legislative period, urban development policy directions for Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf are to be reoriented.
The municipal focus will be on improving urban living standards through innovative mobility concepts, among other things.

The symposium on “Sustainable Urban Mobility Blueprints” attracted more than 70 experts for a district-wide cooperation to find an answer to the following question:
“How can an improved mobility offer in the city create more quality of life for all residents?

One approach is the promotion of multimodal mobility while simultaneously reducing individual motorized transport. To this end, the  “New Mobility Berlin” project presented its needs-oriented approach on the Mierendorff-ISLAND and in the Klausenerplatz-Kiez.

"An essential component of the future development of the district, and thus of the entire city, is characterized by the day-to-day mobility decision of its inhabitants."

- Oliver Schruoffeneger, city district councillor for urban development, construction and the environment in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin

"Only a constructive, dialog-oriented approach to urban mobility and quality of life can lead to future-oriented, needs-oriented solutions."

— Dr. Gabriele Wendorf (ZTG/TU Berlin)

Looking into the future

We do not know which mobility models will prevail and be accepted by citizens, but we do see new potential and solutions emerging in international cities. Inner cities are reacting to the increasing lack of space and other side effects of the strongly increasing traffic volume, such as pollutant emissions or noise pollution. Some cities, for example Singapore, Oslo (toll) or Copenhagen (car-free zones) succeed by setting the right framework conditions in minimizing these negative effects while still addressing residents’ mobility needs.

Ultimately, the cities and municipalities themselves remain in control of adapting their mobility offers in such a way that the quality of life in the city can be improved without a significant limitation of mobility.

"A post-fossil mobility network is emerging. Hence, more important than ever, are real time experiments in which the transformation of transport can not only be tested but also lived."

- Dr. Weert Canzler (Science Center Berlin for Social Research / WZB)

Perspectives for the district

The counting community agreement provides concrete action steps for traffic in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Within the framework of the current legislative period, noise and exhaust gas emissions have to be reduced while car sharing and e-mobility have to be promoted. Modern mobility for all and special consideration of bicycle and pedestrian traffic are planned. Last but not least, the goal of sustainable mobility is to be complemented by appropriate educational programs on transport for children and young people.

In order to achieve these goals, it is not enough merely to align the planning side with these objectives. With regard to mobility, this means: how attractive the citizens may consider one or other means of transport depends on their individual situations and on the perceived and respectively used range of alternatives.

"Citizens are experts for the current situation on site, and we need to become more familiar with their expectations about public space and transport offers in the neighbourhood."

- Oliver Schruoffeneger, city district councillor for urban development, construction and the environment in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin