Nein motorway!

[Lilith7]

Berliners take to the streets protesting at the proposed extension of a motorway which would destroy some of their best known nightclubs & cultural venues.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66697756


[b]"Forget gluing yourself to the road in protest. On Saturday Berliners demonstrated for the climate by blocking a main road with a giant rave.[/b]
Smoke machines, glitter balls and drinks stands were set up amid the road signs and traffic lights, as thousands of clubbers, climate activists and local residents turned a kilometre stretch of main road in the eastern Berlin district of Friedrichshain into an outdoor dancefloor.
With the permission of Berlin authorities, local night-clubs blocked the busy road throughout Saturday afternoon and evening, pumping out music from impromptu stages.
The ravers want to stop Berlin's main motorway, the A100, being extended along this route and ripping through this central urban neighbourhood.

The six-lane motorway would destroy some of Berlin's edgiest night-clubs including About Blank, Wilde Renate, Else, Oxi, Void and Club Ost.
"So much of Berlin's culture would be lost. It's just not necessary to have a motorway in the centre of the city. We have such good public transport."
Amperia, a DJ at About Blank who performed at the rave, says the protest is not just about the destruction of the clubs but also about the environment.
"The highway would bring extreme noise and pollution to the city. Honestly this is going to harm everybody. It's a nonsense project no matter how you look at it."
Germany's transport minister Volker Wissing and Berlin's mayor Kai Wegner want to extend the motorway to deal with the city's growing population and a rising rate of car ownership.


They say it will help traffic flow around the city centre rather than through it.

But activists point to studies indicating that more roads simply lead to more cars.


"Most people my age in Berlin think it's a really stupid idea," says Clara, a 21-year-old student and spokesperson for Fridays For Future.
"This is the most expensive motorway project in Germany.


"For that money you could build a bicycle lane from Berlin to Beijing. It's completely insane to invest in this project."

[Olive]

The destruction of Friedrichshain is an awful thought and almost incomprehensible.   It would ruin the character of the central city, which is unique.   The public transport system in Berlin is superb, you can get anywhere cheaply and easily (with your dog and/or your bicycle) on the U Bahn and S Bahn or a tram.

[Lilith7]

The destruction of Friedrichshain is an awful thought and almost incomprehensible.   It would ruin the character of the central city, which is unique.   The public transport system in Berlin is superb, you can get anywhere cheaply and easily (with your dog and/or your bicycle) on the U Bahn and S Bahn or a tram.

Then I hope the protesters are successful; they do seem to have lots of public support so maybe they'll manage it. It just seems very stupid to do this when they know its going to mean more cars ,when what's needed now is fewer cars.