What’s it like to live in a 15 Minute City? If you want to know, head to Berlin – which is on the verge of becoming a car-free city.
That’s not really the right term, though – as “free” has nothing to do with what’s about to happen. That being a near-total ban on driving within the boundaries of the German capital. The Volksentscheid Berlin Autofrei would, if enacted, limited the use of privately owned vehicles to a maximum of 12 trips within the city’s S-Bahn ring. Emphasis on privately owned. Government owned vehicles would, of course, be exempted.
They are always exempted because the important People have got important things to do (viz, John Kerry and other important people being flown in private jets to conferences dedicated to preventing the “climate” from “changing” by preventing us from flying – and driving). The Important People cannot be expected to walk or (in Kerry, et al’s case) do a Zoom meeting.
Naturally, the reason for making Berlin an “autofrei” city is on account of protecting public health. Important People exempted, of course.
“Public health,” as you may have noticed, has become the new way of saying the “climate” is “changing.” More finely, it is the new way of framing what is supposed to be the latest existential crisis. There is always one of those because there has to be. If there weren’t the people wouldn’t be alarmed. More finely, they wouldn’t be alarmable and that would not serve the interests of the Important People.
People – in general – hare no longer alarmed about “COVID” and “Islamic Terror” has become the Vidal Sassoon jeans of existential crisis. The Soviet Union is so long gone now that only those currently at least in their 40s today even have dim memories of what it was. The “climate change” crisis isn’t new, either. The Important People and their flying monkeys have been telling us we’re doomed – say it like Dr. Smith from Lost in Space – since around the time that show was still on TeeVee. But it has been repackaged. Instead of something brilliantly amorphous that cannot be refuted (how does one dispute the assertion that the “climate” is “changing” given that everything changes?) they at first warned us of dangerously imminent cooling and when that did not materialize, it shifted over to dangerous warming. When that became an obvious fraud the narrative terminology changed to just that. Change.
This was a brilliant move, it must be admitted. They managed to pathologize and hystericize normalcy. To understand just how brilliant this is, imagine them framing the natural growth of a child as alarming “change.” A six year old changes much from that age to the age of 16.
My God! He’s no longer the same!
The technique works even better as regards the “climate” because almost everyone sees the change in the weather. It gets hot in summer, a change from winter that most people used to understand was normal. Now many consider it alarming because that is what the TeeVee tells them they ought to be. Then come winter they are alarmed by the cold. You see? The “climate” is “changing”!
Something’s got to be done!
Well, it’s about to be done, in Berlin. Just not to the Important People. The same people who naturally declared themselves essential during the “pandemic” and thus exempted themselves from most of the rigmarole they imposed upon the people.
“The future belongs to safety, climate protection and the health of all Berliners – not unrestrained car traffic,” says one of the flying monkeys of the Important People.
It is important to note here that “zero emissions” electric vehicles are not exempted, establishing that “public health” has as much to do with the real reasons for making Berlin “autofrei” as forcing people to wear “masks” had to do with “stopping the spread.” They are open now about the real end-goal, which is the elimination of vehicles – privately owned ones, that is – and never mind that business about only vehicles with engines. That was just another trick up their sleeves. It was and is vehicles they’re after.
“Emissions” was just the excuse. 
“This isn’t climate action – it’s a tax on private enterprise,” said Petra Klein, who is a spokeswoman for the UVB business association, which opposes the measure. The UVB is charmingly naive. It is much more than a tax – because you cannot pay your way out of it. Berliners will pay another way. They will have to walk or take what is always disingenuously styled “public” transportation – as if the “public” had any control over it.
You vill take ze bus – a riff on what Klaus said about us eating ze bugs.
“Crowded trains and long waits could turn this into a mobility disaster,” Klein added. Further establishing her naivete. It is not a disaster. It is the intended point of making Berlin “autofrei.”
It is the point of the 15 Minute Cities that the Important People have in mind for the American people. Just as during “COVID,” this is a coordinated plan of behind-the-scenes people who know that they cannot control the people entirely until they get private vehicle ownership completely under control.
Once you understand this, you will understand the rest.
. . .
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As an American of German (Bavarian and Austrian) descent, at least it’s happening in Prussia…I guess lol
If this comes to pass, Berlin will look a lot like many places in India and other parts of Asia where almost no one owns a car. People will be lugging massively over filled carts behind bikes (especially e-bikes and mopeds, if allowed) and perhaps some will go to using large dogs to pull carts, as was done in the past. Drivers of government vehicles and other elites will have to watch out for streets filled meandering pedestrians and cyclists. And also, anyone who can will move out of the city. Those from outside will no longer come into Berlin to shop and eat, so that will be a huge blow to the economy.
Was behind enemy lines a few weeks ago in Ann Arbor and experienced the road with 2 lanes for both directions for bicycles but just 1 for two directions for those evil cars! Lunacy at best.
This is why despite having 1% general public approval, pro bicycle traffic design and laws forge on. They have to build the prison before they drop the other shoe and put us in it.
They re-designed the paint markings on a a whole slew of roads in the Quad Cities over the last decade+ and built numerous stand-alone ‘bike paths’ – of which – most are totally unused.
…Esp., come Winter.
At -30 degrees ‘F, with a 20 m.p.h. wind, No One is going to be using them. A.k.a. Jan. thu mid March? …Just like, The Plandemic? I guess? X2?
Will be great fun getting around on a bicycle during a blizzard, not to mention trying to carry groceries at the same time.
Well, of course, they will institute travel bans, “for your safety”. Your bug rations will be delivered to you by mail?
…’The Plans’ of our overlords have certainly entered, ‘The Twilight Zone’.
I love the Lost in Space Screams of Dr. Smith! I am so reminded of the woke terrors of my leftist neighbors and family.
Thank you, Eric.
Morning, Betty!
My pleasure! I grew up on that stuff, too. Dr. Smith’s abuse of the robot was always TV gold.
I was reminded of 15-minute cities when reading the autobiography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (not written by him, but compiled from his writings after his death). Specifically, the Chicago Campaign of 1965. At that time, people on public assistance in Chicago were not allowed to own any assets, not even a car. So they were stuck in the ghetto. They couldn’t travel to better-paying jobs, or to competitors for shopping. The landlords and store owners jacked up the rent and prices, since they had a captive population. That’s what will happen to us in the 15-minute cities.
Hmm, made me wonder, how did the coal miners escape, ‘The Company Store’?
Johnny Cash – ‘Loading Coal’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__3wWqMKg4I&list=RD__3wWqMKg4I&start_radio=1
This one, too: “You load 16 tons, and what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt!
Saint Peter don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go, I owe my soul to The Company Store”
Johnny Cash – ‘Sixteen Tons (Official Music Video)’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfp2O9ADwGk&list=RDtfp2O9ADwGk&start_radio=1
Morning, SLH!
Exactly so. It is already happening. I know a number of people in their late teens/early 20s (kids of friends of mine) and most are still living at home and do not own a car and depend entirely on manna provided by their parents. I have talked to them and they express a defeated passivity about their situation. Why bother, basically? They see car ownership as an expense beyond their means and owning their own place something they will never experience. So they enjoy what’s at hand and wait for what they can get.
Off topic, I know, but there really are good reasons why some people sometimes move to the left lane and slow down. They’re mostly not doing it just to obstruct or impede you.
Tom Givens
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
‘In the course of my training I drive 35,000 to 40,000 miles each year, mostly on the highway. I habitually scan well ahead the grassy area between the pavement and the ever present tree line, which is usually 20-25 yards from the expressway. I very often see deer and wild turkeys that others don’t see, but over the last couple of days I was reminded of an important lesson.
Sunday in Georgia, I saw a huge, coal black wild boar slip under the fence and start walking toward the highway. I moved over to the left lane and slowed down a bit, as you do not want to run into one of these. Cars to my right blasted by at 75-80 mph, apparently oblivious to the hog.
Yesterday in West Virginia, a big black bear came out of the tree line, walked to within 10 feet of the pavement and sat down, watching the traffic. As before, I moved over and slowed down, but everyone else blasted right by. If they even saw the bear, it apparently did not occur to them that they really don’t want to hit a 350 pound animal at 75 miles per hour.
We see the same thing in criminal attacks. The victim will say, “He materialized out of thin air and stuck a gun in my face!”. Of course, you then look at the surveillance cameras coveing that parking lot and see the following:
Dude got out of the passenger side of a car backed into a space, with his associate remaining behind the wheel with the motor running. (Red flag!).
Dude walked from the car with a hoodie sinched tight over his face and hands under the hoodie, although it’s 85 degrees. (Big red flag!)
As Dude reached a point about a car length away he drew a gun from under the hoodie. (Yep, a red flag.)
Finally, from 7-8 feet away he said, “Hey, Chump, give it up!”. This was the victim’s first awareness of him.
Whether natural hazards like boars and bears, or your neighborhood hold-up man, you can’t deal with them until you see them. Get your head up, look around, and pay attention!’
Morning, David!
That’s true. But it’s also more true I think, that most of those who squat in the left lane aren’t doing it to avoid animals in the road. They’re doing it because they’re either oblivious to common courtesy or something worse.
Talked to a builder in the early ‘80s, said “you want a place in the country better get it soon, the Gov wants everyone living downtown in a rabbit hutch size apartment or condo unit!” How right he was.
Well, Sparky. That don’t make sense, the tax bill is 10X greater in the Ticky-Tacky circle of H.O.A. insanity, ‘er I mean subdivisions. Maybe, the downtown living comes to that area?
I.D.k., who knows, it’s a, ‘Crazy World’.
Scorpions – Live, in San Fransisco:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEMGgUBV6ok
Good article.
The Bottom Line- YOU CAN’T FIX STOOPID!
-And it’s probably too late anyway.
Even the Most Evil Man in History did not try to make the capital of the Reich “autofrei.” In fact, he encouraged affordable motorized transportation for his volk.
Aren’t you glad we defeated him so we could live in “freedom”??
Germans- Gott-Damn (merrung) it looked impressive!
Germania – fooking auto-correct!
Who would’ve believed that when the Iron Curtain disappeared that “Communism” would only reappear in the West wrapped in environmentalism. The symbol of the new totalitarianism should be the watermelon; environmental green on the outside and communist red on the inside. I believe Poland and Hungary have rejected the bullcrap and kept the invaders out of their nations. Germany and the U.K. are done and the U.S. got a four year stay of execution….maybe!
Who is stupid enough to reject private motorized transportation?
The idiotic compliant brain-dead Krauts don’t know that they can have a small vehicle with four wheels with an air-cooled engine that can tool around the town with relative ease.
Been done before, can be done again.
Call the thing a Volkswagen or something.
You cannot fix stupid.
Germany’s GDP:
2021: GDP was $4.35 trillion.
2022: GDP was $4.16 trillion.
2023: GDP was $4.53 trillion.
2024: World Economics projects $4.517 trillion.
2025: World Economics projects $4.530 trillion.
That’s an increase of 4 percent in four years, or a feeble 1 percent per year. Germany’s economy has been treading water since its ‘ally’ the United States bombed the Nordstream 2 pipeline on 26 Sep 2022, cutting off its supply of cheap Russian gas.
Since mid-2022, a statistically improbable quarterly oscillation between growth and contraction is apparent in this chart:
https://tradingeconomics.com/germany/gdp-growth
Europe uses two consecutive quarters of contraction as its definition of recession. So cooking the books every six months to eke out a little fictitious growth allows politicians to claim everything’s fine and getting better. But Germany’s economy is dead in the water, for intractable structural reasons.
You can’t fix stupid.
It must be said once again: Sitzspinklers!
If you can convince “men” to sit on the toilet to take a piss, taking away their cars is child’s play.
Then the pitch turns to the health benefits of orchiectomy: smoother skin! A more mellifluous voice! Freedom from troubling physical urges!
Yes, yes. Nothing sweeter sounding than a chorus of castrati. They also make excellent gal pals and are very easy to control.
Don’t worry, we now have some “intellectual” cover from sitzpinklers at the Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, and the German Primate Center in Göttingen “challeng[ing] traditional views of the natural origins of gender roles.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/beyond-the-alpha-male-primate-studies-challenge-male-dominance-norms/ar-AA1I8R47
I read that article in my news feed the other day. IMO it’s just another way to try and rationalize the transgender nonsense. Meaning to push the false notion that men and women are basically identical physically and psychologically.
“That’s an increase of 4 percent in four years” – Jim H
When you figure in global inflation in the last four years they’re already shrinking…like George Constanza…in cold water…
Even the ridiculous Trabant was preferable.
Part of the way the climate change scam works is like this:
As most people live in houses with AC and have it in their houses.
Summer feels hot as they have become acclimated to cold rather than the hotter summer weather. Winter would be the same experience but in reverse.
Led to believe they can control the weather. NUTS!
The urban concrete environment soaks up heat making it feels even hotter, yet if you go into the rural parts it feels cooler. Riding a motorcycle in the evening you can really feel the temperature change at the city/ rural boundary line.
As for 15 minute cities: If you have ever tried shopping with a motorcycle you can understand how hard it is to shop by bus; how much can you carry and lift? Now try that with a load of groceries.
I’ll start to believe in the climate BS (probably not) when the rich start living in tiny homes and ride the loser cruiser with the homeless, junkies and violent illegals.
You got that right! I remember plenty of 100°F days in the 1980s and 1990s, but nowadays, if there is a “heat wave” with temperatures in the low to mid 90s, ignorant people will cry “climate change”
“[T]his is a coordinated plan of behind-the-scenes people who know that they cannot control the people entirely until they get private vehicle ownership completely under control.” – E. Peters
To people unfamiliar with EP Autos that statement would probably be viewed as alarmist at best and lunacy at worst.
However, nearly 30 years ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long) I was on the county Planning & Zoning Board. As such I went to a number of “planning” meetings and conferences about how to plan the future. One such meeting was held in Charlotte’s South End at a newly fashionable brew pub. It was put on by the New Urbanist architect firm DPZ https://www.dpz.com/ .
During the slideshow presentation (this was pre-PowerPoint) they had a watercolor painting of the future “center city”. At that point the presenter stated, “Notice that there are no cars in our center city. This is AFTER the revolution!” At that point the room filled with urban planners erupted in laughter and applause. It was at that moment I realized just how tyrannical a future lay ahead. Now, here it is.
Those same people control the city through zoning that won’t allow for bodegas and small shops in suburban areas. Then they dream of a “walkable city” that somehow can’t be allowed in existing neighborhoods because of zoning restrictions.
Then they send the enforcers out to take care of the kids selling lemonade without a permit.
I’d love to have a small connivence store within close walking distance, but zoning forbids it. So I have to either stretch out to get to the Maverick or Dollar General about 1.5 miles away or get in the car and drive to the small grocery store… and by the time I’ve done that I might as well go to the big store up in town.
What they complained about most was that zoning, since WWII, favored autos. Prior to WWII there was little or no zoning in most of the U.S. Things evolved as the property owner (such as it is) made the land use decisions prior to central plan zoning. What they wanted to do was use GovCo to enforce what they saw as beneficial pre-WWII.
What they failed to grasp, either by design or ignorance, was that it was the central planning that screwed things up. In other words, they wanted to fix what central planning screwed up with more central planning. Leaving people to decide for themselves is never an option. Sound familiar?
Once one has the power most people are loath to give it up.
Wild comments, Mark in BC! Esp., “During the slideshow presentation”. Wow, that far back, on the ‘local level’? Just, wow. I didn’t know the rot ran that deep.
Thanks for the input.
Morning, Helot –
I can second what Mark wrote. As a reporter, back in the early-mid ’90s, I covered these meetings and heard and read about their plans. They go even farther back than that. The “green” agenda dates back to at least the mid-late 1960s. The reds realized that using “the environment” would further its goals more effectively than prattling on about the proletariat vs. the exploiters thereof.
‘We’ ran a Berlin airlift (15 months, 277,000 flights) in 1948/9 to resist a communist blockade — only to have Berlin go communist anyway?
Nobody even tries to operate a Gaza airlift (it has an airport, which Israel destroyed in 2000) to resist the zionazi blockade.
Arbeit macht autofrei. 🙁
Jim, at least in communist countries back then you could aspire to owning a car. Now GovCo wants you to aspire to owning a bicycle. It’s for MAHA, obey comrade and ride the 35 miles to work so you pay your HOA fees and taxes.
Maybe the Amish can travel to Gaza to rebuild the place and grow food to feed the teeming masses.
Might have to go to Israel too to help the Israelis dig themselves out of the hell hole they’ve dug for themselves.
If it can be done in North Carolina, it can be done in Gaza and even Israel.
Thank God for the Amish. They know how to lend a helping hand, no conditions, we’ll help you all we can.
Not kill them all, help them all, for God’s sake, do the right thing.
Some information about the Kennedy assassination.
Rodney King still wants us to get along.
Come on down to LA…. We’ll treat you like a King!