Rigaer Straße to be remodelled into a safer cycling street

A Tagesspiegel report leading on 18 October 2026 explains that Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district is beginning the long-planned redesign of Rigaer Straße, best known for the squatted houses and May Day clashes along its length. In many sections the roadway is only about 4.80 metres wide between parked cars, well below the 5.50-metre standard for a 'Fahrradstraße'. Parked cars block sightlines at crossings and motor traffic still dominates despite the existing bike-lane marking. The district plans two phases. First, directional restrictions will turn parts of the street into counter-flow one-way sections to cut through-traffic. Second, diagonal parking will be replaced by parallel parking with new markings. From 1 December 2026, paid parking at 3 euros per hour comes to the Samariterkiez, which covers parts of Rigaer Straße; residents can apply for free resident permits. District councillor Annika Gerold said the redesign would make the street 'safer and more bicycle-friendly'.