Disrupted Parliamentary Session: Appeal Falls Short
During Bundestag session weeks, a cyclist has been barred from passing through Friedrich-Ebert-Platz near the Reichstag building in Berlin. This restriction is part of heightened security measures around the parliamentary area to ensure the safety of government officials and maintain secure control over the vicinity of the Bundestag.
The area around Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, being directly adjacent to the Reichstag, is regulated more strictly than usual, limiting pedestrian and cycling passage to avoid any security risks. The closure affects the square, making it inaccessible to the public, including the cyclist who uses the Reichstag square for commuting to work and sports.
The cyclist's complaint about the restriction was initially unsuccessful in an expedited procedure. The court's decision on the cyclist's complaint was made in a court setting, but it was rejected as inadmissible. The cyclist's complaint did not consider the need for smooth operation of parliamentary business, nor did it challenge the authority of the Administrative Court of Berlin to make the initial decision to close the square.
It's worth noting that the area is classified as a traffic-calmed zone. Only members of the German Bundestag and their employees can access the square during the closure. The cyclist is not a resident of the square and does not have a claim to use it without restrictions.
The responsible district office of Mitte announced the closure at the end of May. The cyclist filed a complaint against the Reichstag square closure with the district office, but the complaint was unsuccessful. The closure is only during session weeks from Tuesday to Friday, and it is intended to ensure smooth operation of parliamentary business.
While this restriction may inconvenience cyclists like the one in question, it aligns with common security policies for major governmental sites in Berlin and similar capitals during parliamentary sessions. The cyclist's inability to pass through the square during these times underscores the importance of maintaining security and order around sensitive government buildings.
The closure of Friedrich-Ebert-Platz square, primarily during Bundestag session weeks, is a part of the general-news-related security policies and politics surrounding Berlin's major governmental sites. This restriction on cycling is intended to maintain secure control over the vicinity of the Bundestag and facilitate smooth operation of parliamentary business, as evidenced by its classification as a traffic-calmed zone and the limited access to it, available only to members of the German Bundestag and their employees.
