Nuernberg (Nuremberg): Car-free living in a large scale estate

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Country:

a) Western Europe

b) Germany

Language:
Type:	Project, 1
Area:	District/Quarter, 100,000 - 1 mill.
Actors:	Local government
Funding:	Local government
Topics:	Mobility and transport
Objectives:	Increase public awareness
	Increase use of public transport
	Reduce car mobility
Instruments:

Abstract:

In contrast to the current trend of planning of car-free settlements the Nuremberg project on the large estate in Nuremberg-Langwasser has been in existence since 1979. At the time the concept of a car-free residential area had to test a number of new ideas which finally proved to make a substantial contribution to acceptance of this kind of urban development. It can be regarded as an example of good practice for the following reasons:

• all planning is subordinate to the principle of car-free living;
• a change in legal regulations broke new grounds for the planning process;
• alternative ways of comfortable living have been developed;
• alternative modes of transport have been strengthened;
• safety for children was an important issue in the concept;
• dissemination activities proved to have a great impact on similar projects.

Concept and aims

In 1979 the Langwasser P area of Nuremberg, which is part of a large estate with a population of 35,000, was the first pedestrianized large estate in Germany which is approximately seven kilometres from Nuremberg city centre. The area is located in the green outskirts near the site of the exhibition centre and near the ruins of former National Socialist Party annual party conference site. The area is linked to the city centre by a 15 minute journey on public transport. There are five underground stations. In addition, the estate has access to the city centre by separate cycle lanes. The car-free area, Langwasser P itself, has a population of 3,300. It was built between 1978 and 1987 and covers an area of 14 hectares which expends over 350 x 400 metres. The area was planned with the philosophy to create a complex urban area for the local community (Erlebnisbereiche), non-standardised types of apartments, and individual space for the residents. In regard to transport the idea to ban cars from the inner area was revolutionary at the end of the 1970s, at a time when urban planning was predominantly orientated towards direct access to the private car near the dwelling. However, urban planners in Nuremberg benefited from a special amendment to the legal regulations of the Bavarian traffic law (Straßen- und Wegegesetz, Sondernutzungssatzung). This regulation allowed the building of pedestrian precincts in residential areas. Previously, such areas without cars could be only built as shopping zones. Although the regulation was rescinded in 1987 it proved to be the key factor in building of facilities that can be used without a car.

Implementation and impacts

From the Langwasser experience it is obvious that the policy of implementing a car-free zone in a major residential area can only be started with legal backing. All planning of infrastructure has to be subordinated to the guideline of car-free access to the area. In addition, alternative transport modes have to be offered. In consequence such a project requires a combination of demands on the residents as well as demands by the residents. The following residential conditions have been implemented:

• from the beginning the Langwasser P concept is based on a maximum walking distance of 150 to 200 metres between the flats and the car parks. In 1992 the Bavarian Court of Justice ruled that even a walking distance of 500 to 1,000 metres had to be regarded as acceptable;
• the transport of heavy objects (e.g. beer crates, suitcases) from private car to the flat is facilitated by equipping every apartment with a shopping / luggage trolley. Furthermore the path from the car park or the garage is roofed over;
• the impact of noise caused by playing children is limited by grouping the houses in circles with a inner area that has no play ground;
• the Langwasser P area offers the favourable condition that the walking distance to the car parks is the same as to the public transport stop. Thus the rate of private car use is 20% lower than the average car use in the city;
• the P area has noise protection walls in order to reduce the noise level from the overground public transport system and the main road;
• most shopping facilities for daily use (e.g. supermarket, retail shops, restaurants, chemist’s shop, doctor’s surgery etc.) are located within the P area in order to stimulate less car use;
• in the Langwasser estate there is less space for car parking compared to other areas. Whereas the neighbouring U area has 13.3% of the area as ground-level car parks, the P area has only 6.9% at the periphery of the estate;
• the residential area is located next to a nearby recreational area, the Pegnitztal.

Within the last 15 years most of these improvements have been accepted as worthwhile elements of large estate planning on the one hand and a vital contribution to upgrading living conditions on the other hand. In consequence, the latest car-free project in Nuremberg benefited from the Langwasser project as well as from the incorporation of new elements into planning. In particular the following car-related measures have to be mentioned:

• one project orients at the Langwasser P area and cars are confined to two multi-storey car parks outside the residential area;
• access to public transport is very favourable, to the bus stop (200 metres) whereas the distance to the metro is 900 metres. However, without public transport as an alternative mode the concept as a whole would lose its credibility;
• another project is opting for car-sharing; only 13 visitors and 13 car-sharing spaces are planned for 130 dwellings.

Both options underline that flexibility can be incorporated according to the demands of potential residents. Furthermore, the Nuremberg experience is a good example for a test of new legal regulations and new building ideas departing from the principle of individual car access near dwellings. The Langwasser area P example demonstrates that such ideas have positive impacts and that most changes are accepted after a phase of habituation.

Lessons learned And transferability

An empirical study of childrens´ activities in the car-free area underlined the importance of safe and attractively designed neighbourhoods.

Although the P area is characterised by quite long distances between apartments and the car park facilities there is no significant change in the modal split. However, the residents accept the new qualities of living of the car-free area as compensation for longer walking distances to their cars. The majority of residents interviewed argue that the choice of the transport mode depends on the car park situation at the destination. Trips to the city centre are mainly made by public transport or bicycle whereas shopping in the local shopping centre is made by car due to the available parking facilities.

The P area is especially attractive for children as they have additional play grounds. A study on the use of the open spaces in the neighbourhood underlined that this is a welcomed benefit and that children from neighbouring areas are in the habit of entering the P area in order to look for safe play areas. An extra effect is that P area children use the complete area whereas the children from other areas are mainly restricted to the playing facilities near their homes.

Source of Information

Nützel, Margit 1993: Nutzung und Bewertung des Wohnumfeldes in Großwohngebieten am Beispiel der Nachbarschaften U und P in Nürnberg-Langwasser, Bayreuth

Dittrich, Andrea / Klewe, Heinz 1996: Autofreies Wohnen. Anforderungen, Projekte, Erfahrungen, Institut für Landes- und Stadtentwicklungsforschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Monatsbericht Mai / Juni, Dortmund

Achnitz, Peter 1997: Siedlungsmodell Nürnberg-Langwasser P, in: EA.UE, (Hg.) in Kooperation mit dem Öko-Zentrum NRW: Auf der Suche nach neuer Mobilität. Autofreie Stadtquartiere in Deutschland, Berlin, S. 12-18

Contact:

Cities:

Nuernberg:

The City of Nuremberg has a population of approximately 490,000. The city is a commercial and industrial centre in the north of Bavaria. Nuremberg is widely known for its toys, honey and spice cakes. Other products include motor vehicles, electrical and electronic equipment, office machinery, textiles and precision instruments. The city is also a popular destination for tourism due to its old town centre, the German National Museum, toy and transport museums. In co-operation with neighbouring Erlangen the city has a university.

Population:

Project was added at 08.12.1998
Project was changed at 23.08.2001