Germany Correspondent Paulina Fried

Introducing Germany Correspondent Paulina Fried!

In January 2022 we launched the Global Walkability Correspondents Network, as a way to build solidarity among walkability advocates around the world and continue to create media on sustainable mobility and urbanism.

Photo: Paulina Fried

We are happy to welcome Berlin-based Paulina as a Global Correspondent to our growing network of individuals who are passionate walkability advocates.

“I want to do all I can to support networks, groups, ideas, etc. in bringing pedestrian/cycling-friendly cities to greater visibility and the public eye, so that we can all walk around more often, safely, and happily.”

-Paulina Fried
Photo: Paulina Fried

WHO

I’m Paulina and I’m from Germany (Munich). My background is in Geography and Spatial Planning as well as Sustainable Urbanism. I have gained practical experience mainly in research, including research on urban mobility and COVID at the Chair of Urban Mobility Futures at the University of Amsterdam.

Photo: Paulina Fried

For my Master’s thesis, I conducted an emotion analysis on the walkability of a Berlin neighborhood and have been immersed in the topic of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly cities ever since. I currently work for Deutsche Bahn in Berlin and focus on the improvement and connection of railway stations to the city and region.

Photo: Paulina Fried

WHERE

I’m from Germany (Munich) and currently live in Berlin. I studied for my Bachelor’s in Vienna (Austria) and my Master’s in Denmark. For an internship, I moved to Amsterdam and the past year I have spent in Lisbon (Portugal).

Photo: Paulina Fried

“…my mode of transport is a bicycle. And my feet. Especially in the city, it’s just the best way to explore your surroundings, get in contact with other people, explore new things, interact with strangers and friends and simply be a part of urban life.”

-Paulina Fried
Photo: Paulina Fried

As a Correspondent, I will represent Berlin – and Germany as a whole – as it’s a very car-dependent country and city in the development phase towards more cycling/walking friendly areas, hence with lots of obstacles and different opinions/aims to deal with.

Photo: Paulina Fried

WHY WALKABILITY

I don’t drive a car. I have a license but haven’t used it in 10 years. So my mode of transport is a bicycle. And my feet. Especially in the city, it’s just the best way to explore your surroundings, get in contact with other people, explore new things, interact with strangers and friends and simply be a part of urban life.

Photo: Paulina Fried

I want to do all I can to support networks, groups, ideas, etc. in bringing pedestrian/cycling-friendly cities to greater visibility and the public eye, so that we can all walk around more often, safely, and happily. In my former experiences with networks and volunteering work (A City Made by People, Berlin Carfree, etc.), I have always met interesting people, experiences and knowledge and would like to continue with that.

“As a Correspondent, I will represent Berlin – and Germany as a whole – as it’s a very car-dependent country and city in the development phase towards more cycling/walking friendly areas, hence with lots of obstacles and different opinions/aims to deal with.”

-Paulina Fried
Photo: Paulina Fried

Paulina is an urbanist and mobility enthusiast, living in Berlin and working for the German railway (Deutsche Bahn). She has a background in Geography and Sustainable Urban Development, where she specialized in the research and implementation of sustainable urban mobility. Over the past years, she lived in Vienna, Denmark, Amsterdam and Lisbon and has settled (for now) in Berlin.

Read Paulina’s content here

Learn more about the Global Walkability Correspondents Network here