Ohe, Helena Marie von der (2023) From a car-oriented street to a pedestrian zone- Friedrichstraße, Berlin. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
The Friedrichstraße, located in the central district of Berlin Mitte, spans a length of 3.3km. Renowned as a bustling boulevard housing a variety of shops, hotels, and restaurants, it holds significance in Berlin due to its proximity to prominent landmarks such as the Brandenburger Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. Notably, the Friedrichstraße has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in numerous closures, particularly due to its reliance on tourism given its geographical location. In response to these challenges, the City of Berlin decided to close a 500m stretch of the Friedrichstraße to vehicular traffic and designate it for pedestrian use. This initiative, named Flaniermeile (translated: street to stroll), underwent a traffic trial from August to November 2020 to assess the impact of the traffic changes. However, the project faced substantial criticism during the trial period, primarily due to the prohibition of car usage. Following a positive evaluation by the Berlin Senate, the 500m section officially became the Flaniermeile in January 2023. Despite the project's positive evaluation, it continues to face resistance from commercial entities and political figures. Consequently, the research question "How has public participation occurred in the case of the Flaniermeile in Friedrichstraße, Berlin?" is proposed. To address this research question, a mixed-method approach has been employed. Quantitative surveys, analyzed using SPSS, were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the local community's perceptions and the project's effects. Additionally, three in-depth interviews were conducted to gather insights from various perspectives, including an on-site economic entity, a resident, and a representative from the responsible senate department. It can be concluded that the traffic trial and the project itself were implemented during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis, which initially contributed to frustrations among the public. Notably, the traffic trial lacked public participation due to its primary focus on public information dissemination. Moving forward, evaluating the planned public participation process after the implementation of the redesign becomes crucial, as this aspect remains a current limitation. Furthermore, conducting statistical analyses to capture the overall perception of local residents following the street's reconstruction would provide valuable insights.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Hanna de Almeida Oliveira, P. |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jul 2023 09:30 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jul 2023 09:30 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4261 |
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