Berlin Court Reviews Legality of Proposed Car-Free Inner City Referendum

The Berlin Constitutional Court has begun hearings on the citizen-led initiative to restrict car traffic within the S-Bahn ring, with a ruling expected at a later date.

The Berlin Constitutional Court started hearings on April 2, 2025, to assess the legality of the 'Volksentscheid Berlin autofrei' referendum proposal.
The initiative seeks to limit car traffic within the Berlin S-Bahn ring, allowing exceptions for disabled individuals, emergency services, and limited private car use.
The Berlin Senate referred the matter to the court in 2022, citing constitutional concerns about the proposed car restrictions.
The referendum proposal gained significant public support in 2021, collecting over 50,000 signatures, more than double the required threshold.
A decision from the court is not expected immediately, leaving the future of the initiative uncertain and closely watched for its potential urban policy implications.