Explore Berlin’s Urban Transformation

Are you part of a public or private organization working 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 with your colleagues?

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

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.

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 firsthand. 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, renowned for its extensive public transport network, has a mobility story shaped by two world wars and the Cold War. Today, the city is expanding its transit system while adopting forward-thinking concepts like Mobility as a Service (MaaS) to integrate shared mobility solutions.

After World War II, traffic planning in East and West Berlin focused on a “car-oriented city”, transforming public spaces into roads and parking lots. This legacy persists in noise, pollution, and traffic accidents. However, with the lowest car ownership rate in Germany, Berlin is shifting away from car-centric policies, fueled by public opposition to projects like the A100 highway extension.

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 transport solutions.

Climate change presents Berlin with major challenges: urban heat islands, droughts, and extreme rainfall. To tackle these issues, the city is working to reduce CO₂ emissions, such as by promoting sustainable timber construction, while also adopting measures to adapt to climate impacts.

In this workshop and bike tour, we explore innovative projects making Berlin more resilient. How does preserving the Haus der Statistik save embodied carbon and energy? How is the Spreekanal being transformed into a recreational cooling zone? We also examine how urban gardening and green roofs enhance biodiversity and mitigate urban heat, while redesigned spaces prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over cars, with permeable surfaces helping manage stormwater.

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 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 been taken the 15-minute city as a source of inspiration aiming for similar goals. Inspired by Barcelona’s superblocks, Berlin is currently creating its own version—Kiezblocks.

This study tour highlights both positive and negative historical practices of urban densification and provide insights into what makes a successful 15-minute city and Superblock.

Once one of Europe’s most affordable capitals, Berlin became a hub for creative minds and cultural professionals. Today, rising rents and gentrification are reshaping the city. Who can still afford to live here? How much space remains for the art, culture, and diversity Berlin is known for?

After the fall of the Wall, Berlin was filled with vacant buildings and unused spaces. Now, global pressures have intensified the fight for affordable housing. How can neighborhoods preserve their social mix while providing room for art and culture? This workshop and tour explores solutions, from affordable housing initiatives to vibrant community projects that resist the pressures of gentrification.

We’ll also delve into Berlin’s tradition of alternative living models – squats, trailer communities, and cooperatives – that foster social cohesion and offer sustainable urban solutions. With its strong “bottom-up” approach to urban planning, Berlin is shaped by citizen-led projects that make the city more inclusive and livable.

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

Every study tour takes about 6 hours.