Hastenbeck heatedly discusses: Radstrasse causes citizen protests!

Hastenbeck heatedly discusses: Radstrasse causes citizen protests!

A lively discussion recently broke out in Hastenbeck, where around 80 citizens gathered for the local council meeting. The crowd was so great that many visitors had to stand. The main item on the agenda was the new bike lane, which was set up between Hastenbeck and Afferde in August. There were intensive discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of this transport concept.

Local mayor Steffen Knippertz (SPD) often found himself in the position of calming people down. The meeting was characterized by a citizens' question time that lasted over 50 minutes, in which numerous questions were raised about bicycle lanes and traffic calming. Knippertz announced that a citizens' dialogue will take place next spring in order to take citizens' concerns even more into account.

Hot topic bicycle street

Another point discussed was the requirement for one separate cycle and pedestrian paths, which citizens present would prefer. The desire for a second cycle path between Hastenbeck and Afferde has existed for 44 years, with economic reasons also being cited for its construction. Dr. Matthias Loeding (SPD) brought up the idea of ​​dismantling the existing cycle path and building a real cycle path instead.

The legal framework was also examined in detail. It turned out that the Realverband, as the owner of the road, can technically make the dismantling possible, but this remains legally controversial. Knippertz also explained that the local council cannot revoke a council decision, which makes the situation more complicated.

Focus on traffic calming

Another central point of the discussion was the introduction of 30 km/h speed limit in Hastenbeck. City planning officer Markus Pfeiffer emphasized the need to reduce speeds in the area in order to increase safety for all road users. The majority of those present would like to see a general traffic calming. A pedestrian crossing was also announced on Bückebergstrasse to further increase safety.

Local council member Meike Agnes Usluer announced that she would submit applications to the city if the majority spoke out against the cycle path. A discussion about a possible survey to form opinions was also initiated, as it is clear that many opinions and needs still need to be taken into account on this point.

Cycling as a growing alternative

Against the background of these local discussions, it is clear that cycling is becoming increasingly important in many cities. Experts estimate that up to 30% of car journeys in metropolitan areas could be shifted to cycling. Improving the cycling infrastructure could therefore not only help relieve the burden on the environment, but also increase the quality of life in cities.

In cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, cycling is very popular and represents a significant part of total traffic Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that the use of bicycles not only improves air quality, but also has economic benefits: employees who cycle are, on average, less sick and contribute to a higher quality of life through their exercise. The current discussion in Hastenbeck shows that the desire for more safety and better cycling infrastructure is also strongly represented here.