Application rejected: Leonhardistraße will not become a bicycle street

Created: 01/12/2023 15:33

By: Andrea Schmelzle

Leonhardistraße remains an inner-city street © Schmelzle

Kaufering – The application by the Kaufering Greens to examine and convert Leonhardistraße as a bicycle street was rejected by a large majority at the first municipal council meeting in the new year: the benefit was rated as too low compared to the effort involved.

Shortly before the Christmas break, the Greens had submitted their application to the Kaufering administration to examine the legal options for establishing Leonhardistraße as a bicycle street and, if possible, to implement it.

The reason was the last finance committee meeting in December, explained parliamentary group member Tobias Kirchberger, during which the planned projects for the new year were presented. "If we renovate them anyway, we can also make them more attractive," he said.

A bicycle street is a street intended for bicycle traffic.

It should increase its attractiveness and create advantages over motor vehicle traffic.

Only bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters are allowed to ride in a cycle lane, but additional signs can allow car and motorcycle traffic - for residents, for example.

However, the maximum speed is 30 kilometers per hour and special consideration must be given to cyclists.

The Leonhardistraße is an essential part of the Kaufering cycle network, Kirchberger continued, and is important for reaching the East of Landsberg, Epfenhausen and the Leonhardi chapel by bike.

The road is already impassable for the average driver.

There are exceptions for residents and agricultural traffic.

Nevertheless, according to Kirchberger, the application was made in order to emphasize the importance of a bicycle network and to set an example with Kaufering's first bicycle street.

According to Kirchberger, the conversion of Leonhardistrasse into a bicycle road is important for a good and sensible expansion of the road.

Everyone should be able to see through appropriate signage: This - and not Epfenhauser Straße - is the path that cyclists should use.

For Elisabeth Glaser (the Greens), the project is "an important sign", namely to prove: "The market community wants to promote bicycle traffic and sees the bicycle as an equal means of transport".

"Some e-bike riders even drive faster than 30," interjected councilor Rosina Heinle (CSU).

In addition, the Leonhardistraße is "intended for agriculture" anyway.

That's why you don't need to change anything.

"It's okay the way it is." A prerequisite for a bicycle street is that it is mainly used by cyclists, added Peter Mailänder (Kauferinger Mitte).

That is not the case with Leonhardistrasse.

Wheels are in the minority compared to agricultural vehicles.

The aim of expanding the road is to make it safer, which also includes making it more bicycle-friendly, said Markus Wasserle (SPD).

However, the test for a bicycle road is very complex.

It's a lot of work, but offers relatively little benefit.

The construction of a bicycle lane is only necessary if

if there is a risk situation - which is not the case in Leonhardistraße, said Kaufering's manager Dominic Jödicke.

Therefore, the project will probably fail because of the legal feasibility.

Nevertheless, the Kaufering administration wanted to give the local councils the opportunity to "discuss the issue in peace".

However, this did not result in the motion being passed: the councils rejected it by a vote of six to 14.

Leonhardistraße will not become a bicycle street.