Stuttgart

Stuttgart in South-West Germany: another city that we would not name among in the first in the ecological transition. Constricted to a narrow valley and home to a significant part of Germany’s automobile industry, after the destruction of the Second World War followed another wave of destruction with the purpose of creating a car-friendly city. Historical buildings and green spaces were demolished and a massive highway constructed through the center of the valley. Every day, tens of thousands of cars pass residential buildings, covering their facades in black sooth. In the 2010s, the street “Am Neckartor” in Stuttgart became famous as the most polluted intersection in Germany, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeding health limits massively, sometimes often reaching levels as high as 300 µg/m³ (compared to 50 µg/m³ acceptable by law).

But after residents took legal action for their safety, the city had to act: old polluting cars were banned from entering the city already in 2008, speed limits on the main highways entering the city were lowered from 70 km/h to 40 km/h with tight control by speed cams, and new express bus lanes were constructed. By now, air quality has significantly improved.

At the same time, many further measures have been taken to make the city more livable, more clean, and more safe. For example, free parking in the city has been essentially abolished – payment for on-street parking has been introduced throughout the city. A network of bicycle highways for commuters connecting Stuttgart to all neighboring communities is under construction and partially completed. Just now in July 2025 a bridge for cyclists has been built across a major road to make it safer to reach the bicycle highway (already used by 1,5 million citizens per year).

But let’s take a look inside the quarters of the city.

This is a key project under implementation in Stuttgart. A long straight street through residential quarters, previously used as a quick shortcut by car drivers, has been cut by so-called diagonal blocks: bollards permit cyclists to pass through, while car drivers have to turn. Like this, residents can get to their homes easily while noisy through-traffic is intercepted. Immediately, the street has become safer and quieter, at the cost of a few cheap bollards and some color, without removing any resident’s parking space. New plants permit a rest outside in the summer, for example in front of a pizza restaurant. A small number of parking spots have been reserved for bicycles and car sharing (the red car in the right picture can be booked by app). In my opinion a great low-cost initiative.

Here a summer concert is held, and the city prepared for the large number of people that have to park their bicycles. Citizens can arrive here and leave their bike in custody, supervised and protected from theft during the event. Might be an idea for the San Siro zone in Milan, maybe?

Here we have a central intersection, which had often been the scene of car collisions. With an easy and cheap installation this was made safer: the yellow barriers block cars from passing straight through where the most problematic turns were made. Emergency vehicles, like a fire truck can still “break” through the barrier if necessary. And on the right, in red clearly highlighted, a passage for cyclists was created. Shorter paths make cycling more attractive!

Another key project in Stuttgart: an entire street was converted into a bicycle street – that is, people on bikes have priority here, cars have to slow down, and cyclists are allowed to ride side by side. As you can see from the signs on the right side, in fact only residents are allowed to enter by car – and the end of the street was closed with bollards, making it a dead-end for cars and thus unattractive for non-residents. Moreover, the intersection area in front has been colored green to highlight cyclists priority on the bicycle street. I could imagine many bicycle streets implemented in the controviali in Milan!

Another great invention from Stuttgart that keeps out car through traffic, while admitting bicycles. Gates closed, cars (and motorbikes) are completely banned from this street during the night hours and weekends, guaranteeing restful sleep without traffic noise on this street previously often used as a shortcut. Gates opened during the day, the street is narrowed far enough to make drivers slow down to safe speeds. In the picture, note a smart bonus: the gate is held by simple locks on the left and the right that can easily be opened by emergency services to ensure rapid access of fire fighters or ambulances. Also this is an idea I could imagine working very well in many of the residential quarters of Milan.

Let us conclude with a historical view of one of the main streets in Stuttgart. 1965, this central artery was dominated by cars. But already in the 1980s, Königstraße was pedestrianized and has quickly become one of the most frequented shopping streets in Germany. Maybe also because along the street there are three underground metro stops? Surely the pictures wake memories of Corso Buenos Aires in Milan.

In the last picture, we have another redesigned street in the center of Stuttgart. The street being central as a bicycle connection and as a shopping street, here curbs were removed, a speed limit of 20 km/h introduced, and parking limited to short term pickups or deliveries. Plenty of racks for bicycle parking were installed and trees planted. With success: this street is highly frequented by pedestrians and cyclists now and customer numbers in shops here have reacted very positively to this increased attractiveness.