Kassel-Vellmar: Construction starts on cycle highway – but where is the momentum?

Kassel-Vellmar: Construction starts on cycle highway – but where is the momentum?

A lot is happening on the cycle path front in Kassel: Construction work on the rapid cycle connection between Kassel and Vellmar is in full swing. This route, which stretches over around 7.5 kilometers, should be equipped with suitable lighting and also cleared in winter. The ambitious goal: to welcome up to 8,400 bicycles on this connection every day. Work in Vellmar began last year, while in Kassel the first groundbreakings will take place in several sections this week. The largest part of the cycle highway in Vellmar could even be completed next year, provided that approval for the last 300 meter long section is not long in coming. A lengthy process, as the planning itself took over a decade. This reports hessenschau.de.

But what does this expansion mean for the region? The existing paths will be rebuilt, but no new roadways will be required. The Ministry of Transport in Hesse has already completed a total of around 13 kilometers of cycle highways - an impressive five of them in the last two years. Listen to the critics? The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) believes that implementation is progressing far too slowly and demands that the state itself actively intervenes in the construction of the cycle highways. Meanwhile, four projects with a total of around 50 kilometers are currently in the starting blocks in Hesse. In the shadow of this progress are twelve rapid cycle routes with over 290 kilometers for which feasibility studies have been completed, although the start of construction is still uncertain for many. There are also six other projects that are still in the feasibility study.

Detailed plans for Kassel

The area of ​​the new rapid cycle connection in Kassel includes numerous improvements for cyclists. Within the planning and approval section, which includes Henschelstrasse and Gottschalkstrasse as well as a section of Mombachstrasse, 660 meters will be expanded. New bicycle streets with a core lane width of 4.50 meters are to be created here. The streets are marked in accordance with the quality standards for rapid cycle connections and local mobility in Hesse. The lighting situation is also being refreshed, with Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH taking over the lighting calculations. The results of street drainage by KASSELWASSER have already been incorporated. New road gullies are even being planned in the safety dividing strip to guarantee optimal drainage. These sequences show that we have a good hand for the future of cycling in Kassel.

Kassel has much more to offer! The sidewalks should not only sparkle, but also enrich the cityscape. The plan is to integrate existing trees and create seating in the area of ​​Mombachstrasse and Gottschalkstrasse. The cafés and restaurants also benefit from wider sidewalks, which create multifunctional public spaces. Furnishing details such as different surface materials to visually separate the parking lane and the sidewalk round off the concept. A little color is brought into play by intersection areas colored red, which are intended to reinforce the priority rules and support the safety of cyclists.

The vision for Hesse

But the rapid cycle connections are more than just local projects. They represent a significant part of Hesse's mobility strategy. In 2018, the state of Hesse identified 42 corridors that have the potential for high-speed and direct cycle connections. The studies show that some of these corridors could attract more than 2,000 bike commuters per day. The most promising connections include Frankfurt to Offenbach and Wiesbaden to Mainz. These corridors are becoming real heroes for commuters who want to improve their environmentally friendly mobility. The complete study is well documented in five volumes and provides municipalities and planning authorities with valuable information. Further information about the rapid cycle connections in Hesse can be found on the website Nahmobil Hesse available.

Conclusion: It will be exciting to see whether the projects progress quickly and how Kassel's streets transform into a traffic oasis for cyclists. There is still a big task ahead of the region, but the preparations are promising and cycling in Hesse could soon receive a new impetus.