Urban Development Study Tours

Are you part of a public or private organization or a private person interested in mobility, urban planning, or climate change? Are you seeking inspiration from other cities to shape your urban strategies or projects, while engaging in meaningful discussions about urban transformation?

Now is your chance! Starting this year, Berlin on Bike is proud to offer customized study tours designed specifically for your needs.

Our study tours combine theory and practice in an innovative and interactive way – through a blend of seminars and bike tours.

For over 20 years, Berlin on Bike has been offering tailor-made bike tours. Topics such as urban development, transportation planning, and sustainable mobility have become an increasing focus. Our guides bring diverse expertise, including urban planners and architects, who provide practical insights and in-depth knowledge. Our company is also currently undergoing sustainability certification by Visit Berlin in order to make Berlin on Bike even more environmentally friendly and socially responsible.

With more than two decades of experience, we not only know the stories behind Berlin’s neighborhood transformations but also understand the details of its evolving infrastructure, changing business landscapes, and social transitions. These insights make us a unique partner for addressing the challenges and opportunities of urban development.

For us, the bicycle is more than just a means of transportation – it’s a tool to experience urban spaces. Our tours enable participants to gain a direct understanding of Berlin’s projects and urban transformations.

Our workshops and tours combine professional expertise with practical examples that can be experienced directly on-site. We tailor the content to the specific focus areas of your company or team.

Experience the transformation and future of Berlin with us – sustainable, mobile, and inspiring!

Berlin’s mobility story has been heavily influenced by two world wars and the Cold War. The city is known for its extensive historical public transport network, which continues to grow today, not only in terms of new infrastructure, but also by integrating shared mobility solutions (MaaS). Besides public transport, mainly after the second world war, both East and West Berlin focused on developing the “car-oriented city”. This led to a transformation of public spaces into roads and parking lots. As a result, the city has been suffering from noise and air pollution, barriers between neighbourhoods, and a high number of traffic accidents.

However, with the lowest car ownership rate in Germany, Berlin is shifting away from car-centric policies slowly. A turning point came in 2018 with Berlin’s pioneering mobility law, developed through citizen input to prioritize walking and cycling while reimagining streets for people. Despite its ambitious goals, implementation faces hurdles, including Berlin’s decentralized government and resistance from various stakeholders.

This study tour examines Berlin’s mobility evolution—from its historical roots to current policies and challenges—offering insights and inspiration for sustainable urban mobility solutions.

Like many European cities, Berlin faces major challenges from climate change: urban heat islands, droughts, and extreme rainfall. To address these issues, the city is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change while minimizing its CO₂ emissions. Berlin aims to become carbon neutral by 2045 and to reduce CO₂ emissions by 70% by 2030.

In this workshop and bike tour, we will explore innovative projects that are making Berlin more resilient. How does the preservation of the “Haus der Statistik” save embodied carbon and energy? How is the now unused Spreekanal being transformed into a recreational cooling zone? We also examine how urban gardening and green roofs increase biodiversity and mitigate urban heat, while redesigned spaces prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over cars, and permeable surfaces help manage stormwater. We’ll also discuss conflicts, such as balancing environmental protection with the urgent need for housing.

Discover how local initiatives and green infrastructure projects are shaping a sustainable, climate-adapted Berlin, ensuring the city remains livable for generations to come.

The late Industrial Revolution (1850-1900) transformed Berlin from a bunch of sleepy old villages into one of Europe’s largest and most densely populated metropolises. Distances were short, and streets often served as vibrant public spaces. After the city’s division into East and West, two distinct urban planning paradigms emerged, both 

focusing on increasing division of urban functions and space for private cars. Particularly in the West, residents resisted many unsustainable developments, taking urban transformation into their own hands.

This bottom-up culture remains vibrant today. As Berlin continues to densify and attract investment, NGOs, researchers and many other organizations are advocating for accessible services and inclusive public spaces. Also, the government has taken the 15-minute city concept as a source of inspiration aiming for similar goals. On a neighbourhood level, inspired by Barcelona’s superblocks, Berlin’s residents have taken matters into their own hands by creating their own version, called Kiezblocks.

This study tour highlights both positive and negative historical practices of urban densification and provides inspiration of what makes a successful 15-minute city and superblock.

After the fall of the Wall, Berlin was filled with vacant buildings and unused spaces, and was one of the most affordable capitals in Europe. This attracted creative and cultural people from all over the world who wanted to create and build something new. 

Today, Berlin is home to people from over 170 nations, making it a highly multicultural city. Meanwhile, global pressures have intensified the struggle for space and affordable housing. Rising rents and gentrification are reshaping the city. Who can afford to live here? How much space is left for the art, culture, and diversity for which Berlin is known?

This workshop also explores how Berlin’s urban spaces can better meet the needs of women, non-binary individuals, and marginalized groups.  How can we ensure that different cultural communities have equal opportunities to shape and participate in city life? 

We’ll also look at Berlin’s strong bottom-up approach to urban planning and its tradition of alternative housing models – squats, caravan communities and cooperatives. 

Discover how Berlin’s innovative and community-driven initiatives are working to keep the city open, creative, and equitable for all.

Every study tour takes about 6 hours.