Halle's 2019 car-free resolution lingers despite voter rejection in 2021
A long-running dispute over traffic rules in Halle's old town has resurfaced after an administrative blunder kept a 2019 car-free resolution in place. Despite a 2021 referendum in which 61% of voters rejected the plan, the original decision was never formally scrapped. Now, the city's political factions are pushing to correct the error.
The confusion began in 2019 when Halle's city council approved a resolution to make much of the old town car-free. Two years later, residents voted overwhelmingly to overturn it. Yet, due to an oversight in the administration, the 2019 resolution remained technically active.
The issue returned to the spotlight after the FDP faction proposed a motion to finally repeal the outdated decision. Both the planning and economic committees backed the move, setting the stage for a full city council vote. Approval is widely expected, as the FDP argues for a more balanced approach to traffic—one that includes pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, and private cars. The debate over mobility in Halle's city centre has been ongoing for years. In 2020, the council adopted the *Climate Road Map 2030*, promoting cycling and walking infrastructure. A year later, the *Inner City Traffic Concept* was approved, introducing one-way streets and parking restrictions between 2022 and 2024. Then, in 2023, a trial car-free zone in the Marktplatz area was tested in 2024, though it faced opposition from the CDU and AfD over economic concerns. These measures moved forward under the SPD-Green majority, while discussions on bus priority lanes continued into 2025. The FDP now wants a new resolution to ensure the 2021 referendum result is enforced—and to block any future attempts to reintroduce a car-free old town.
If the city council approves the repeal, the 2019 car-free resolution will finally be removed from the books. The decision would align Halle's traffic policies with the 2021 vote and shift focus toward the FDP's proposed compromise. Further debates on mobility, including bus lanes and pedestrian zones, are still expected in the coming months.
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