By Sabine Klier
Vacant shops, skeptical pedestrians, aggressive cyclists: Friedrichstrasse has been closed to traffic again since Monday. But it’s still not a real pedestrian zone – most passers-by therefore prefer to use the sidewalk.
Clara Aires (30) from Köpenick, who works as a board officer in a nearby office, is happy: “I think it’s really good that no more traffic passes through here. This is important for climate protection. It should become a trend.” Her colleague Elisabeth Fritsch (28) shares her view. “Cities are for people. Not for cars. However, the trees are still missing here.”
Clara Aires (30) from Köpenick and Elisabeth Fritsch (28) from Lichtenberg work in an office on Friedrichstrasse. They find the pedestrian zone necessary and good. Because both are for climate protection. “Cities are for people, not for cars,” says Elisabeth. “However, the trees are still missing here.” Photo: Christian Lohse
Prof. Jürgen Waldmann (83) has been a resident for seven years. “At my age I can now stroll around here in peace and don’t have to pay attention to the traffic.” But that has so far been more of a wishful thinking. When Waldmann pushes his walker across the street, he almost gets knocked over by a cyclist! Who also snaps at him cheekily: “Hey dude, can’t you pay attention to the traffic.”
Resident Jürgen Waldmann (83) is happy: “At my age I can now stroll here in peace. However, everything was recently demolished. There are new signs now. How much does it cost to go back and forth?” Photo: Christian Lohse
The special thing about this pedestrian zone: cyclists can also use it, but should drive at walking speed. But no one does here – the Rad-Rambos race along Friedrichstrasse at high speed.
A number of shops on Friedrichstrasse, which used to be so chic, have dead windows, they are closed Photo: Christian Lohse
Gaitano Redlich (32), videographer from Tempelhof, is skeptical anyway: “People don’t come here to shop, but mainly to work. In order to be a pedestrian zone, other shops would have to be there.”
Friedrichstrasse doesn’t exude charm at all and it hardly has any beautiful architecture to offer. Prefab building, Lafayette and Meoclinic, isolated a small café. Two large wooden constructions, leftovers from the first phase of traffic calming, do not necessarily invite you to sit down. They look out of place. And could use a coat of paint!
Two large wooden seats remain from the last traffic calming project. Visually, they do not fit into the streetscape Photo: Christian Lohse
“This used to be an attractive shopping street,” regrets Patricia Budde (53) from Nikolassee. “The traffic calming made it less attractive – for customers as well as for shops. So many stores are empty. And that in the center of Berlin. Politically this is just anti and protest. And taxpayers get to pay for it.“
Gaitano Redlich (32), video producer from Tempelhof, is certain: “Not enough people come here to shop. Most of the people who walk here also work here. That doesn’t justify a pedestrian zone. Now you can’t park here anymore. It’s a normal street in the middle of the city.” Photo: Christian Lohse