Berlin’s Abandoned Radbahn Test Segment Could Get a Vibrant Second Life
A forgotten stretch of the Radbahn beneath the U1 line in Kreuzberg could soon become a lively community space. The 200-metre test segment, once part of a planned nine-kilometre cycling route, now sits underused after its original features—like lighting and street furniture—were removed. Local activists and researchers are now proposing fresh ideas to bring it back to life.
The Radbahn was originally designed as a continuous cycling path, but only a short speed test section was built during a five-year research project. Cyclists who tried it reported feeling safer than on regular roads, yet political delays and funding shortages blocked further development. Today, the segment remains poorly linked to Berlin’s cycling network, leaving it largely empty.
The Radbahn’s test segment has sat unused since its original features were dismantled. If implemented, the new proposals would turn it into a functional part of Kreuzberg’s daily life. From fitness trails to markets, the ideas focus on practical ways to reactivate the space for residents and cyclists alike.
