Bad Tölz wants to double bicycle traffic in the city by 2027
Created: 09/15/2022, 18:25
Numerous new signs show cyclists the way in the Tölz urban area.
© Bock
Bad Tölz – Because cycling is cheaper, space-saving and emission-free compared to motorized traffic, cities want to promote cycling in the future - as does Bad Tölz.
Half of all routes in the Tölz urban area are suitable for cycling, but this accounts for only ten percent of domestic traffic.
However, cycling should be encouraged.
In the most recent city council meeting, for example, it was decided to continue to actively optimize cycling in the city area.
The city continues to strive for the award "Bike-friendly municipality in Bavaria".
Overall, by 2027, the aim is to double cycling from 10 percent today to 20 percent.
More space for cyclists has long been the demand of many experts with regard to road safety.
"In the future, cars will have to give up lanes to make room for cyclists, whose paths would otherwise be too narrow and unsafe," says Siegfried Brockmann, Head of Accident Research at the German Insurance Association.
In the future, motorists will have to be prepared for the fact that cyclists will be given preference more frequently, for example at traffic lights on an important cycle path.
Safety for cyclists in Bad Tölz: Accident hotspots should be defused
In order to ensure more safety for cyclists, however, one should not become rigid about certain recipes: For example, the so-called pop-up cycle paths, which are often discussed at the moment, bicycle lanes separated by color and separated by bollards, are not the solution to all problems.
Accident hotspots such as intersections, exits or cars parked at the side of the road would not be mitigated or only partially mitigated.
Among other things, Brockmann calls for better lines of sight in crossing areas.
Parking spaces would have to be reduced and illegal parking penalized.
In addition, municipalities would have to defuse known accident black spots.
But it is also clear: “There can never be absolute safety.” According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the number of cyclists involved in accidents increased by 15 percent between 2000 and 2021.
The main reasons are accidents involving people over the age of 65.
Among other things, the European Automobile Club calls for the expansion of cycle lanes.
Paths along country and federal roads are very unattractive.
But in this country in particular, cycle paths, as long as there are supra-regional connections, run along federal highways, such as from Bad Tölz to Bad Heilbrunn.
In addition to noise and exhaust emissions, cyclists are sometimes blinded by cars and trucks at night.
Cycling in the Tölzer Land: paths are to be expanded
An expressway is currently being built between Lenggries and Bad Tölz, which also runs along the B13 federal highway.
On the cyclists' wish list are connections in the direction of Tegernsee (where construction is currently underway along the B 472 federal highway), as well as from Tölz to Sachsenkam and, above all, via Bairawies to Geretsried.
Cycling in Bad Tölz is problematic due to the topography, as there are many steep uphill or downhill stretches.
There is also a lack of space, for example in the area of the heavily trafficked Bahnhofstrasse/Osterleite intersection.
In addition, the important east-west connection Nockhergasse is very dangerous due to the lane narrowing at the so-called Irlbeckhaus.
The city of Bad Tölz wants to continue increasing bicycle traffic in the city area from ten to 20 percent.
Mayor Ingo Mehner (CSU) limited that this number is a requirement, whether you can reach it is completely open.
In any case, one wants to achieve the award "bicycle-friendly municipality in Bavaria", as manager Falko Wiesenhütter explained.
In the recent past, numerous signposts have been put up, markings have been applied to the roadway and sidewalks with little traffic have been opened up to cyclists.
The curbs were also lowered in various places.
Karl Bock