Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
However, it could take 25 years to automate at least two lines of the German capital’s underground
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the public transport operator of the German capital, is planning to purchase semi-automatic trains for use on the local U-Bahn underground network. The tender for the trains will be issued later this year, however, the question of automatization of the subway could take decades. Plus, critics are also worried about the way this will affect accessibility for disabled commuters.
Other European capitals, such as Paris and Copenhagen, already enjoy the benefits of autonomous subway trains, however, Berlin authorities are taking a more cautious approach to the idea. The argument for the automatization of the underground is that it will increase the frequency of trains. Currently, most BVG trains run once every five minutes and automatization could shrink this pause down to 90 seconds.
Semi-automatic trains still feature a driver, who is responsible for starting the train and also for folding out the ramp that eases accessibility for people in wheelchairs. Everything else, including running the train, stopping, opening and closing doors and communicating with other trains to avoid accidents is up to the smart system.
The two concerns that have popped up in the wake of the news of the tender were that automatization of the stations would actually be very slow. Although no details have been presented BVG said that it could transform two stations per year to operate with automatic trains. Considering that U5 and U8 alone have 50 stations together, it would take a quarter of a century to prepare these two lines alone. And the entire U-Bahn has 175 stations!
Another concern is that if full automation is eventually implemented, this would hamper accessibility and make the metro less welcoming to people with disabilities.
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
The benefit will last until the Dutch parliament adopts the transgender law
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team