"Real problem with parents' taxis": students despair of car madness and intervene themselves
Created: 12/14/2022, 7:35 am
By: Jannis Gogolin
To underline their arguments, the project group simulated the accident of a classmate.
Last year, she was missed by a parked car and suffered head injuries.
© Carolina Saraiva da Silva
Parent taxis and the lack of a cycle path make the way to school in Laim dangerous.
Accidents have happened.
Now the students are turning to politics themselves – with initial success.
Munich – The tenth class at the Georg Büchner secondary school in the west of Munich has a problem.
Pupils are dissatisfied with the bike lanes around their school.
"We have a real problem with the parents' taxis, a vicious circle," explains Carolina Saraiva da Silva (16), spokeswoman for the project group (class 10a).
Precisely because the way to school by bike can be dangerous at times because of the parents' taxis parking in and out, the parents prefer to take their children to the door in their car, thereby increasing the problem.
No bike path in front of Georg-Büchner-Realschule in Laim: Pupils in 10a are fed up – “really dangerous”
"It's really dangerous, especially for students from the lower grades," says da Silva, referring to the elementary school next door.
There have already been incidents of overlooked school children on bicycles.
So far, the accidents have been relatively mild – including a slight concussion – but class 10a doesn't want to wait until something worse happens.
According to the idea, a cycle path should run along Droste-Hülshoff-Straße.
This would also help the neighboring elementary school children.
© Carolina Saraiva da Silva
New cycle path at secondary and primary school should also relieve the climate
The initiative should also be understood as an appeal to parents to leave the car at home more often.
The cycle path should therefore also promote climate-friendly behaviour.
Because the theoretically avoidable car journeys emit an average of more than 130 grams of environmentally harmful CO2 per kilometer.
Therefore a bike path, preferably along the road from Westendstraße to Käthe-Bauer-Weg.
The fact that such a project is not that easy did not faze the 10a students.
"Of course we thought about how that would be legally feasible," explains da Silva.
"Unfortunately, the state is not obliged to build cycle paths," she regrets.
This also bothers the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC).
This has been calling for a wheel law for some time.
In order to change that at least at their secondary school, the class submitted a petition to the Laim district committee at the end of November.
"We collected signatures and showed that there are many other people supporting our cause," says da Silva.
The panel responded and is planning a site visit in January next year.
School management enthusiastic about project experiment - "Looking beyond one's own nose"
“It's always great when students learn something through practical work.
And here they immerse themselves in many areas, be it politics or road safety," says headmistress Veronika Schachner.
It is the first project of this kind at the Georg Büchner secondary school in Munich.
According to the current status, but definitely not the last, she emphasizes, very impressed by the work of her students.
“They interviewed students and parents and even included the elementary school next door.
That shows you think outside the box,” she says, not without pride.
"I'm excited to see what comes out of it at the end."
also read
"What's the matter with Munich?": A man walks through the pedestrian zone with his bouquet and even takes the subway
READ
Winter barbecues: Hearty, healthy and delicious throughout the cold season
READ
Attack on climate sticker in Munich: Drivers are probably physical to activists
READ
Increasing flow of refugees: New tent city in Munich is being built – emergency scenario during the Christmas holidays?
READ
"I hear you...": Notice in Munich's old building triggers shudders among users
READ
Fancy a journey of discovery?
My space
The student project formally ended in early December – but not for da Silva and her classmates.
“I now also go to other schools and report on our project.
Then maybe others will follow us,” hopes the 16-year-old.
They are far too excited about the outcome of their petition anyway to lose sight of the cycle path.
They are also supported by the Munich association Green City and by the Free State's platform "Einmisch!" and the Bavarian Value Alliance Foundation.
Regular, free of charge and always up-to-date: We put together all the news and stories from Munich and deliver them to you free of charge by e
-mail in our brand new Munich newsletter
.
Sign up now!
