Category Archives: Quality of Life

Parking: Expensive for everyone except drivers

 Is Parking a Basic Right?

What does our community do when it offers free parking for almost everyone? Do free parking spaces constitute a needed public service such as education or health? Why am I allowed to buy a car without having to think about where I can park this car, day or night?


Parking on the cycle path in Bremen

Why am I paying rent or property tax for my house, but use free public space to park my private tin can?
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Dangerous drivers from a parent’s perspective

Sunday night on the way home from the swimming pool my 8 year old daughter and I were almost run over by a car turning left into the crosswalk where we were (legally!) crossing the street.


Annes daughter watchful/An der Ecke Kornstraße/Kirchweg

Unfortunately we experience similar situations several times a week, since traffic enforcement in Bremen is dying out, and frustrated car drivers take their aggression out on the “weak.” This incident occurred at the intersection of Kirchweg and Kornstrasse in the Neustadt, just seconds away from our front door.

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Bremen Cycle Streets: Humboldtstraße – A Role Model?

Humboldtstraße
Humboldtstraße

Bremen’s politicians are extremely proud of the new design of Humboldtstraße as a Cycle Street. It is hailed by our representatives and their cycling advisers as a great solution for a range of problems. However, the new design didn’t arise because all the experts thought Humboldtstraße to be the ideal space for a Cycle Street. Rather, the idea was developed because Hansewasser, Bremen’s water company, planned to upgrade the sewer system under the road.
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Jan Gehl – Cities for People

Jan Gehl – Architect, Urban Planner, Visionary and Humanist

Jan Gehl is an experienced architect and urban planner from Copenhagen with a very special view on his environment. Today he has become something of a patron for pedestrians and cyclists. Continue reading Jan Gehl – Cities for People

Parking Day in Bremen Neustadt

What a nice and friendly way to get into contact with people!

A great opportunity to exchange ideas about living in the city, about transport policy priorities for pedestrians, bicycles and public transport, on community life, on CO2 and climate issues and whatever is on peoples minds when doing their Friday afternoon/weekend shopping! Some even took the opportunity to join us on the parking place we had payed for and have a game of chess…

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Out of the Blue

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The Neustadt, a densely populated district of Bremen on the south bank of the river Weser, is described in official literature as offering quiet streets with charming old houses. However, like so many other such areas, the charm is cursed by the demands of the car and its proponents. So when we, a group of local residents took the initiative to try to calm their streets, the hope was that the local authority – with a Green Party senator running the transport department – would look kindly on our efforts, but the reaction was the absolute opposite.
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Sustainable Mobility Week

Today Bremen starts its week of sustainable mobility

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(Foto: Beatrix Wupperman)

Highlights include:

Friday, 16. September
– 17:00 Parking Day (Vor dem Steintor, Höhe Ziegenmarkt)

Saturday, 17. September
– 14:00 Tour de fair (Georgs Fairkauf, Admiralstr. 143)

Sunday, 18. September
– 10.30 ADFC Hochstraßentour (Bahnhofsvorplatz)

Monday, 19. September
– 16:00 Mit dem BUND entschleunigt durchs Blockland (Tierheim Hemmstr. 491)
Friends of the Earth Bremen invite you for a cycle tour away from noise and emissions through the Blockland

– 19:00 Bicycle-Pilotprojekt Neustadt (HSB Cafeteria, Neustadtswall 30) Info and Discussion

For the full program see here:

Bremen ohne Lärm, Schmutz und Enge: Der autofreie StadTraum