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Berlin Senate orders removal of Kantstraße pop-up bike lane

Citing fire department rescue limitations, the Senate has given the district 14 days to propose a new street layout.

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Overview

  • The pop-up bike lane, installed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, must be dismantled under the Senate’s directive.
  • Officials say the existing layout prevents fire engines from positioning ladder trucks to reach upper floors of Kantstraße buildings.
  • The Senate deemed the district’s proposal to reinforce the median strip as cost-prohibitive and rejected it.
  • Under the new plan, cars will park along the right curb, buses and cyclists will share a middle lane, and other traffic will use the left lane.
  • Councilor Oliver Schruoffeneger and cycling advocates warn the reconfiguration will heighten collision risks for cyclists as A100 and Ringbahnbrücke construction raises local traffic volumes.