the Free street manifesto

For over 70 years private cars have dominated public space in German cities. We - a creative-academic Alliance - have now published a Manifesto to dismantle this dogma. In seven theses the Free Street Manifesto presents a future full of opportunities for liveable and sustainable cities, when we reimagine urban space beyond cars. We call on anyone to become a pioneer and help kick-start this much needed change. 

Virtually every street in every German city is clogged with cars, parking and standing idle for more than 23 hours a day on average. This highly inefficient use of scarce urban space triggered our cooperation as the Free Street Alliance, uniting think-and-do-tank paper planes e.V., the mobility researchers of the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), and the participation experts of the Technische Universität (TU) Berlin

We argue for ecologically sustainable modes of transport like bikes or shared mobility options, including public transit and shared vehicles, to become the new normal. Private cars will then only be used by people who really need them. We estimate the benefits for
neighbourhoods, public health as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation to be enormous.

The
local economy in many respects has much to gain from the gradual implementation of the Manifesto as well. Free streets provide space for pavilions as remote workplaces, workshops, and production facilities, as well as for infrastructure supply. This not only saves much time-consuming commuting, but also allows German cities to become more independent from global crises

The Manifesto does not stop at the proposal for a more sustainable city of the future but offers
concrete recommendations for action regarding political will and agency, as well as citizen participation and empowerment. 

We call on everyone to sign the Manifesto. In addition, we invite anyone interested in the project to visit our
Experience Lab at Forster Straße 52, 10999 Berlin Kreuzberg. Here we set up an exhibition over the summer of 2022, where visitors can see, smell and hear the free street. Afterwards visitors can experience the free street on a small scale on the forsTerrasse, a temporary terrace for the neighbourhood, which was built on former car parks.

FREE STREET ALLIANCE

Paper Planes e.V.

paper planes e.V. initiated the project and holds responsibility for the conceptual work, the images of the future, and the communications around the project. The think-and-do tank is known for its radical proposals for sustainable city planning, ruffling feathers with projects like Radbahn Berlin and morgenfarm berlin.

Berlin Social Science Center

The Research Group Digital Mobility of the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is a leading force in the area of Research on Mobility Practices. The team enriches the project with their academic expertise and ample experience with transitional processes in sustainable city planning.

Technische Universität Berlin

The Department of Work/Technology and Participation at the Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) specialises in participation processes in the context of research projects. The team fosters the involvement of citizens in the project and ensures their contributions are reflected in its outcomes.
Free the Street is funded by the Mercator Foundation.

CONTRIBUTORS

Initiative

Jonas Marx (project impulse)
Matthias Heskamp | paper planes e.V.
Stefano Tiracchia | paper planes e.V.
Perttu Ratilainen | paper planes e.V.
Simon Wöhr | paper planes e.V.
Dr. Birgit Böhm | TU Berlin
Dr. Weert Canzler | WZB
Prof. Dr. Andreas Knie | WZB

Project management

Matthias Heskamp | paper planes e.V.
Jasmijn Lodder | paper planes e.V.
Perttu Ratilainen | paper planes e.V.
Dr. Francesca Weber-Newth | paper planes e.V.
Simon Wöhr | paper planes e.V.
Dr. Birgit Böhm | TU Berlin
Dr. Weert Canzler | WZB
Theresa Pfaff | WZB

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION
Dr. Birgit Böhm | TU Berlin
Tobias Biehle | TU Berlin
Dr. habil. Weert Canzler | WZB
Dr. Juliane Haus | WZB
Prof. Dr. Andreas Knie | WZB
Theresa Pfaff | WZB

Research

Giulia Pozzi | Fabulism
Marco Piazza | Freelance Architect
Matthias Heskamp | paper planes e.V.
Arne Janssen | paper planes e.V.
Kristin Karig | paper planes e.V.
Jasmijn Lodder | paper planes e.V.
Perttu Ratilainen | paper planes e.V.
Mathilde Kærgaard Skaaning | paper planes e.V.
Stefano Tiracchia | paper planes e.V.
Simon Wöhr | paper planes e.V.
Tobias Biehle | TU Berlin
Dr. Birgit Böhm | TU Berlin
Friederike Tautz | TU Berlin
Sophie Persigehl | Urban Impact Agency
Jonas Schorr | Urban Impact Agency
Dr. Weert Canzler | WZB
Dr. Martin Gegner | WZB
Dr. Juliane Haus | WZB
Lara Meyer | WZB
Theresa Pfaff | WZB
Franziska Zehl | WZB

Team Expert Checks

Dr. Weert Canzler | WZB
Dr. Martin Gegner | WZB
Dr. Juliane Haus | WZB
Theresa Pfaff | WZB

Team Expert workshops

Perttu Ratilainen | paper planes e.V.
Mathilde Kærgaard Skaaning | paper planes e.V.

Dr. Francesca Weber-Newth | paper planes e.V.
Simon Wöhr | paper planes e.V.

Text and editorial lead

Simon Wöhr | paper planes e.V.

Co-Authors and editors

Matthias Heskamp | paper planes e.V.
Jasmijn Lodder | paper planes e.V.
Kristin Karig | paper planes e.V.
Stefano Tiracchia | paper planes e.V.
Tobias Biele | TU Berlin
Dr. Birgit Böhm | TU Berlin
Dr. Weert Canzler | WZB
Dr. Juliane Haus | WZB
Prof. Dr. Andreas Knie | WZB
Theresa Pfaff | WZB

Proofreading

Svenja Paulsen (German)
Jasmijn Lodder | paper planes e.V. (English)

Translation English

Jeanette Mooney & Jenny Wade

Renderings

Jonas Marx | Reindeer Renderings

Comics

Carlo Miatello (Artwork)

Stefano Tiracchia (Idea & Storyboard) | paper planes e.V.
Simon Wöhr (Idea & Text) | paper planes e.V.

Illustration InfoGraphics

Kristin Karig | paper planes e.V.
Stefano Tiracchia | paper planes e.V.

Illustration Measures

Matthias Heskamp | paper planes e.V.

Website

WAALD GmbH

Communications

Jasmijn Lodder | paper planes e.V.
Arne Janssen | paper planes e.V.

Perttu Ratilainen | paper planes e.V.
Mathilde Kærgaard Skaaning | paper planes e.V.

special thanks to

Klaus Kordowski, Selim Guelbas, Christian Wagner, and all those who helped us improve the Free Street Manifesto over the summer of 2021!

Neighbourhood Thesis

The street as a place for chance encounters.

Changing streets to change societies.

MEHR

Mobility Thesis

The use of urban space as a car park is a fundamental error of judgement.

Real freedom goes well beyond our private cars. It’s time to free ourselves of them!

MEHR

Economy Thesis

The free street: lifeline for progress.

For more reliable supplies and new spaces for creativity and innovation.

MEHR

Health Thesis

The free street: a charm offensive.

Here, everyone can feel safe, stay healthy and move about freely.

MEHR

Climate Thesis

The free street: protecting our lives and those of future generations.

Helping communities cope with extreme weather conditions.

MEHR

Political Thesis

It takes political will to free streets!

Try new things, keep what works and embrace conflicts.

MEHR

Participation Thesis

It takes pioneers to free the streets.

We can all play our part to make the change.

MEHR

SIGN THE MANIFESTO NOW AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

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Nachbarschaftsthese

Die Straße ist unser Treffpunkt mit Fremden.

MEHR

Mobilitätsthese

Befreite Straßen sind Straßen mit genügend Raum für unserer aller Mobilität.

MEHR

Wirtschaftsthese

Befreite Straßen sind leistungsfähige Straßen und gut für unsere Volkswirtschaft.

MEHR

Gesundheitsthese

Befreite Straßen sind vitale Straßen und ein Segen für unser Gesundheitssystem.

MEHR

Klimathese

Befreite Straßen sind Straßen für Mensch und Natur.

MEHR

Politikthese

Befreite Straßen sind Straßen derer, die dort wohnen und arbeiten.

MEHR

Beteiligungsthese

Von allein wird es keine befreiten Straßen geben.

MEHR