Overview
- Activists began weekend collections citywide for two Volksbegehren: a largely car‑reduced inner city and a ban on most commercial digital advertising in public space.
- Each initiative must secure at least seven percent of eligible voters’ signatures in four months, estimated at about 170,000 to 175,000 valid names.
- The Verkehrsentscheid plan would, after a four‑year transition, classify most streets inside the S‑Bahn ring as car‑reduced and cap private trips at about 12 days per person annually, with exemptions for disabled people and essential services.
- Organizers reported strong early turnout despite freezing weather and are distributing preaddressed mail‑in lists to boost participation across neighborhoods.
- The car proposal was ruled compatible with Berlin’s constitution in June 2025, though opponents including AfD figures argue public transport cannot absorb displaced trips, and the state election chief says combining any vote with September’s election would be sensible.