Berlin Senate pushes to dismantle Kantstraße bike lane before election, DUH vows to sue
Berlin's Senate wants to quickly dismantle the pop-up bike lane on Kantstraße, but the Deutsche Umwelthilfe is preparing a lawsuit. The tender for removal and a new bus lane is already open.
A long-simmering dispute over a pop-up bike lane on Berlin's Kantstraße is heading to court. The Senate transport administration wants the lane removed as quickly as possible, while the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has announced it will file a lawsuit once the dismantling is complete. The conflict pits safety concerns against cycling infrastructure, with a state election looming in the background.
The removal plan
A tender issued by the state-owned Infravelo calls for the removal of the existing bike lane, including all its markings and signage, and the construction of a bus lane that will also be open to cyclists. Companies can submit bids until 4 August 2026. The work is scheduled to run from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2027. Robin Kulpa, head of transport and air quality at DUH, expects the removal itself to be finished before the election to the Berlin House of Representatives, while the bus lane construction could take considerably longer.
- Tender deadline for removal and bus lane construction
- Work period begins
- Removal of bike lane expected to be completed
- DUH files lawsuit against dismantling
Safety argument
According to the Senate administration, the bike lane must go because it endangers residents. In an emergency, the fire brigade might not be able to rescue people from the upper floors of adjacent buildings at certain points along the street. This safety rationale is the official reason for the short-term removal.
Legal challenge
DUH will not wait passively. Kulpa told the dpa that the organisation will sue as soon as the bike lane is gone. An earlier lawsuit is not possible under German transport law.
An earlier lawsuit is not possible because in the transport sector you cannot sue against orders or tenders for measures.
The pop-up bike lane was installed during the pandemic and has been contested ever since. Now the Senate appears determined to create facts before voters go to the polls.
Alternative route
Verkehrssenatorin Ute Bonde (CDU) recently pointed to Pestalozzistraße, which runs parallel to Kantstraße, as a possible alternative for cyclists. However, that street is not yet a dedicated bicycle road. The Senate administration stressed that the responsibility for planning and ordering such a bicycle street in the secondary network lies with the district authority.
There is also the possibility of shifting bicycle traffic to Pestalozzistraße, which runs parallel to Kantstraße.
The fate of the Kantstraße bike lane now hinges on the speed of the removal works and the timing of DUH's promised legal action.
