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Schwenningen makes room for pedestrians: More safety in the city center!
The city of Schwenningen plans to close the pedestrian zone “In der Muslen” to cars in 2025 in order to improve safety and quality of life.
Schwenningen makes room for pedestrians: More safety in the city center!
An important topic is currently dominating the discussion in Schwenningen: the planned traffic relief in the “In der Muslen” pedestrian zone. The city has made the decision to finally stop through traffic for motor vehicles in this area. The aim of this measure is to increase security and improve the quality of stay in the city center, while at the same time increasing the attractiveness for retailers and restaurants. In the future, customers should be able to stroll and stroll undisturbed without being disturbed by moving traffic.
What are the backgrounds? The project was initiated in 2017, but it had to remain on the shelf due to financial difficulties. Now the local council, initiated by the CDU and SPD factions, has made a new attempt. After several preliminary consultations, the implementation was decided by a large majority. The city administration was commissioned to prepare the necessary traffic regulations and initiate dedication procedures. There were numerous discussions with residents and businesses to find the best possible solution.
New measures to improve the pedestrian zone
The new measures include the installation of bicycle racks and barrier posts, and the pedestrian zone will also be expanded to the southern Friedrich-Ebert-Straße. These changes mean that pedestrians can travel safer and more comfortably. Currently, trucks and other vehicles were able to use the pedestrian zone, but this will no longer be possible. These regulations are intended to avoid such critical encounters between pedestrians and traffic in the future.
Motorized traffic was already banned on Uhlandstrasse, but many people used the bypass. With the new regulations, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße will become dead ends in northern and southern sections, where only walking speed will be permitted in the future. Short-term parking spaces for visitors and parking spaces for people with disabilities will be retained, and temporary access for delivery traffic will also be made possible.
Experiences from other cities
These transformative measures are not only important for Schwenningen, but represent part of a larger movement that can be observed in many German cities. For example, Munich is creating a similar framework by converting streets into pedestrian zones and reducing parking spaces. Numerous cities, such as Munich Haidhausen, have taken similar measures. These often required longer evaluations and discussions with residents in order to create acceptance. In such cases, many residents fear rising rents and loss of sales for local businesses.
However, the examples so far also show that retail can benefit from an increase in pedestrian numbers. This could also have a positive result for Schwenningen. Some business owners are already optimistic and are hoping for more customers thanks to the improved pedestrian area. Successful design of public space is crucial for the success of such measures, as is the involvement of residents in order to reduce resistance at an early stage.
Overall, Schwenningen relies on a well-thought-out strategy to regulate the flow of traffic while at the same time providing space for a lively city center. Looking at other cities that are taking similar paths, it is clear: if well planned, the “In der Muslen” pedestrian zone could be a real benefit for the entire city.