Better bicycle traffic in Regensburg: The opposition is moving too slowly

Created: 12/16/2021, 4:55 PM

There was a lot of euphoria in 2019 after the city council accepted the demands of the Regensburg cycling decision.

In the case of the Greens and the ÖDP, this euphoria is currently subdued.

© Michael Bothner

At the end of the year, the governing coalition in Regensburg praised itself for its efforts to improve bicycle traffic.

Greens and ÖDP in the city council see it differently and call for a different transport policy.  

“The administration still thinks traffic too much like it did in the 1970s,” criticizes Astrid Lamby.

The head of the ÖDP parliamentary group in the Regensburg city council criticized the fact that the promotion of cycling is far too small-scale instead of dare to take the big hit.

“People still don't look at what the whole city needs as a whole,” Lamby says annoyed.

There is no basic narrative.

Dispute over cycling: government coalition with a lot of self-praise

The reason for the criticism is a current press release by the governing coalition made up of the SPD, CSU, FDP, Free Voters and CSB, in which they draw a consistently positive balance of their cycling policy.

Tenor: A lot is already up and running, a lot should be made up and running in the coming years.

But not only the ÖDP sees it differently.

A look back.

In 2019 over 13,000 citizens signed the “Regensburger Radentscheid” referendum.

Central demand: The rapid expansion of main cycle routes to enable sustainable and attractive cycle traffic.

The city council made the demands its own and used them as the basis for Regensburg's future transport policy.

For a year now, the administration has been working with the “Radentscheid” project group and an external consultancy on an extensive route plan, which should be presented this autumn.

Controversy over cycling: there have been improvements

But that didn't work.

The date has been postponed to next year.

Nevertheless, SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Burger emphasizes: "We are pushing the topic of the cycle route network - even before the overall concept is on the table." From the point of view of the coalition parties, Regensburg * is on the right path towards a bicycle-friendly community.

In fact, several bicycle roads have been created in recent years and the decision to build a bridge over the Danube between Sinzing and Großprüfening (construction will start in 2022).

The expansion or asphalting of further cycle paths is planned for 2023 - also in the surrounding area.

Controversy over cycling: ÖDP does not want to be fobbed off with "small ideas"

Neither the ÖDP nor the Regensburg Greens deny that these projects are good and important and that the city has started to move towards cycling. Every measure for safe cycling and walking is welcome, say the parliamentary groups. Astrid Lamby (ÖDP) speaks of a "certain window dressing" and "fobbing off with little ideas".

Michael Achmann, City Councilor of the Greens and co-initiator of the cycling decision, sees it similarly. The coalition is now selling "measures that have already been planned as measures for the cycling decision". But the signatories of the 2019 referendum would certainly not want “the administration to carry on as before.” Consistent main routes for bicycle traffic should be “the primary transport policy goal of urban development” - prioritized “over and above the current measures”.

In the eyes of Astrid Lamby, the press release in which the coalition praises itself for its achievements for cycling is a typical case of "you want to show that you are finally doing something".

It only lists what one would have already done "without really getting down to business".

Little seems to have changed about this problem so far.

Controversy over cycling: is there too little money?

Despite some progress, there is a lack of the necessary consistency and seriousness.

This also applies to the financing of the necessary measures, criticizes Achmann.

At a meeting between the administration, the planning office and the Radentscheid team, it turned out that “in addition to the annual 400,000 euros in the bicycle traffic jam, a further 600,000 would be necessary for the coming year.” For the year 2023, 1.4 million euros would be missing.

SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Burger sees it differently.

If there is actually a lack of funds in 2023, then "as usual, it will be an issue when drawing up the next budget, in case there is any additional need here".

One should wait and see first.

Green City Councilor Achmann, on the other hand, holds: "If the coalition is serious about the decision on the bike, it should promptly submit the catalog of measures to the planning committee as well as a proposal for prioritizing and implementing the measures for a decision." * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA