The “Berlin car-free” public initiative has failed to gather the required number of signatures, marking a significant setback for the campaign. Organizers announced on Saturday morning that approximately 140,000 signatures had been collected, falling short of the 175,000 needed to move the proposal forward.
According to the initiative, additional signatures submitted through district offices are still being counted. The final verified total will be released by the state election authority on May 22. Despite this, organizers acknowledged that the effort is unlikely to meet the threshold and said they accept the outcome “with disappointment.”
The initiative had drafted legislation proposing a major change in how most streets within Berlin’s S-Bahn ring are designated. After a planned four-year transition period, driving and parking in these areas would have been heavily restricted. Private car trips would have been limited to just twelve per year under the proposal. Had the initiative succeeded in reaching the required number of signatures, it would have triggered a public referendum to decide on the measure.
Despite the failed attempt, organizers emphasized the broader impact of their campaign. “Of course it hurts that in the end it was not enough,” said Marie Wagner, spokesperson for the initiative. “But for us it is clear: the transport transition in Berlin is coming. We have started a debate that will no longer fall silent.” The group added that future Berlin governments will be judged on their commitment to advancing transport reforms.
Several political parties in Berlin had previously campaigned against the “Berlin car-free” proposal. Opposition came primarily from the CDU and AfD, as well as the FDP and BSW, with messaging displayed prominently on campaign posters.
The broader political debate is expected to intensify as the official election campaign begins in the autumn. Elections for the Berlin House of Representatives are scheduled to take place on September 20.
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