Berlin is planning a car-free area larger than Manhattan | Hacker News Reader

Berlin is planning a car-free area larger than Manhattan

fastcompany.com

49 pointskitkat_new9 comments

I currently can't drive. I am slowly learning how poor an experience many places I visit are for pedestrians and appreciating more pedestrianised zones such as what is being planned here. Further, I am noticing how often places where pedestrians and cars mix, they are poorly designed, often lack safety margins and downright dangerous spots for pedestrians, nor considerations for less than perfectly able (I am in this category intermittently).

Does it allow buses? A significant amount of traffic particularly on the Western side is bus traffic. It‘ll take quite a while to replace with trams and the like.

In many zones of Berlin the Buses are mostly full electric right now with some backup on Diesel, especially in Winter time or hotty summer days.

But I guess buses are and will be allowed still allowed in the new plan

The argument about making spaces car-free is more than just about the emissions, though. And EVs don't totally get rid of emissions or pollution, since there's also the particulates from the tires and brakes and the like.

There are a few new electric buses, for example the 300. 99% of Berlin buses are still diesel.

Taking a rental scooter for a spin in this new Berlin sounds super fun. I hope this all works out and inspires more cities to follow suit!

Ironically, Manhattan is one, if not the only, North American city that could handle the demand that would result from a ban on cars.

Maybe when the US bans new sale of ICE vehicles in 2050, we might see similar bans on cars in capable areas nationwide, and especially in one of the densest western cities on the planet.

> "Ironically, Manhattan is one, if not the only, North American city that could handle the demand that would result from a ban on cars."

perhaps, but not obviously so. nyc's subway system is already maxed out at peak times, with an inability to increase service because of old signaling, trains, and tunnels. it costs $1B+ per mile and many years to lay new track because of corruption and nimbyism. buses could possibly provide enough additional capacity, but most manhattanites would rather cut off their nose than ride a bus. electric bikes/scooters have some marginal uptake, but that's also unlikely a mass solution there.

On my mobile device the web page opens an autoplaying video that takes up 30% off the screen with a tiny X button that I failed to tap 3 times. Car-free zone sounds cool though!

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