Lübeck wins mobility price: Beckergrube becomes a pedestrian zone!

Lübeck wins mobility price: Beckergrube becomes a pedestrian zone!

In a radiant celebration of the innovation, Lübeck recently won the mobility price of this year's Energy Olympics. The project "Redesign Beckergrube - Mobility Transition and Structural Change in Resilient urban space was awarded". The aim of this ambitious project is to redesign a central street into a climate and future-oriented traffic area, which not only upgrades the cityscape, but also makes the stay more pleasant for citizens. The city wave a total of 7,666 euros as prize money that will flow into further plans. According to ln online particularly lifts the jury Citizen participation emerged that came into play as part of the city center. 

The conversion of the Beckergrube focuses on the design of a extensive space for pedestrians and cyclists, in which the quality of stay of an increasingly lively city center is to be increased. In order to implement the plan efficiently, clear stages were set, whereby the construction work has already started in the past late summer and are to be completed by 2026. However, it was not all without difficulty - some local shops, including the popular local colestreet, had to close, while the construction work is in full swing.

Details of the renovation and financing

The redesign of the Beckergrube is part of a larger mobility concept that was decided in 2019. It is intended to increase the quality of stay and promote climate -friendly traffic types in the city center, the city administration reports on its website lübeck.de. With a solid total volume of 3.5 million euros, financed by the federal program "National Projects of Urban Council", a solution is being worked on that takes into account both foot traffic, and bike and bus traffic. Changes in traffic during the full closure from October 2024 to autumn 2026 are already being planned: shops, gastronomy and medical facilities remain easy to reach for pedestrians, while cycling in pedestrian zones is made possible at night.

A shuttle service will also improve the connection between the central places. The diversions for vehicle traffic and buses are also sensibly considered, so that the traffic flow can be maintained despite the extensive construction work. The St. Marien parking garage also remains accessible, which is important for many drivers.

integration of the population and events

Citizen participation is a central element of the project, and an advisory board was founded for the Beckergrube, which is made up of around 30 representatives of various interest groups. Events for information and participation of the public are also planned, including a day of the open construction site, which is scheduled for May 10, 2025. Here the Lübeckers are given the opportunity to actively participate in the redesign of the urban space and bring their ideas.

The conversion of the Beckergrube is not only a local project, but also reflects the trend of many cities to increase the quality of life through sustainable mobility concepts. It is therefore not surprising that similar initiatives are also pursued in other parts of Germany, such as in Berlin. Berlin.de explains that the focus is also on the improvement of the environmental association, i.e. foot and bicycle traffic, as well as on buses and railways in order to noticulate the trend towards motorized individual transport.