Cities in Germany have been a magnet for young people and also for tourists from all over the world for decades. The mature old towns, popular residential areas, the variety of work, culture, entertainment and quality of life on offer have been a guarantee of quality of life until now. Now the cities are changing. Is that good or bad?
What are Germany's cities doing for climate-friendly urban and mobility development? And what solutions are cities in other European countries relying on? In a study, the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) compared measures taken by ten international cities and examined their transferability to German municipalities.
According to the study, the mobility sector is seen as an important lever for CO2 reduction by all cities studied. All of them strive for a modal shift through a combination of measures to strengthen walking, cycling and public transport as well as measures to reduce car traffic. But even the international cities that are considered pioneers have not yet achieved a complete traffic turnaround.
Stationary retail is facing similar challenges as transport. Retailers are facing significant declines in sales. From January to September 2022, clothing shops made eleven percent less sales than in 2019, bookstores 21 percent, toy shops 17.5 percent. Online retail increased by 31.2 per cent in the same period. Footfall in German shopping streets fell significantly. Every tenth shop could be closed within ten years.
Changing mobility and retail problems are the main reasons why cities will change their face significantly in the coming years. The reduction in individual traffic will ensure better air and less noise. The elimination of traffic areas makes room for other uses. This new open space is coveted: because the construction of new housing also increases the need for green recreational and leisure areas. The question is: Will and can leisure activities in the centre of cities replace the cities' hitherto central function as shopping centres? The opportunities for the emergence of liveable, people-friendly and lively cities seem greater than ever before - now it is a matter of implementation.
(Photo: © Hermann Traub, Pixabay)
