Tempo 30 in Hamburg: Noise protection plans encounter resistance

Von Kl Redaktion

In Hamburg, the red-green Senate is tinkering with a new plan to reduce the nightly noise pollution. The focus here is on the expansion of Tempo 30 zones on main roads. According to the environmental senator Jens Kerstan (Greens), the speed limitation reduces the noise, which is mainly based on car traffic. This is an important step, since demonstrably excessive noise can affect the health of the residents.

The initiative aims to reduce the nightly noise pollution on a total of 41 road sections, where values ​​over 60 decibels are reached. This number of decibels roughly corresponds to the noise of a lawnmower, which is operated at ten meters away. At night, Tempo 30 restrictions already apply at 28 other road sections, but this measure is now to be extended to even more stressed roads.

the political reaction

The proposed changes met with criticism from the opposition CDU. The environmental policy spokesman for the CDU citizenship group, Stephan Gamm, sees the expansion of km / h a strategy to provide the city across the board with speed limits. This could lead to the traffic of main roads being shifted to quiet residential areas, which could result in additional problems.

The discussion about noise reduction also reflects deeper concerns within the population. The Federal Association against noise pollution (federal government) was accused that the Senate acted too passive in noise protection. BUND state manager Lucas Schäfer called for more commitment in a policy that focuses on health and quality of life. "The Senate must not miss the chance to make a progressive mobility policy for Hamburg with an obviously huge social majority for noise protection," said Schäfer.

Kerstan himself emphasized the need for reforms and emphasized the effects of higher noise on sleep. "If a limit of 55 decibels is exceeded, this affects the relaxing sleep," says Kerstan. He also addressed the figures: Around 184,500 people in Hamburg are affected by traffic noise during the day, which corresponds roughly to the sound of a television on room volume. At night, 215,000 people are even reached by noise over 55 decibels.

planned measures and outlook

In addition to the new Tempo 30 zones, the Senate develops a noise action plan that is to be put to the public discussion in September. The decision about the project is expected to be made by the end of the year. Kerstan also wants to increase the number of so -called quiet areas in Hamburg from 15 to 17. These zones are specially designated to minimize noise sources and to ensure a quiet environment.

increased attention to the problem of aircraft noise was also mentioned. Kerstan was angrily commented on the expiry of a conveying system for passive noise protection, since no new funds in the household were granted. He emphasized that these grievances should no longer be accepted and the challenges of the future must be cleverly tackled by a new Senate.

Overall, it is clear that Hamburg faces a wave of noise protection measures that could be important for both residents and for the city's transport policy. No matter how intensively the discussions about the different approaches are conducted, the topic of traffic noise is and remains an urgent concern in the Hanseatic city.

a challenge for the city

The planned change shows that the problem of noise is of central importance not only in politics, but also in the daily life of citizens. It remains to be seen how the public reacts to the new efforts and which specific measures will ultimately come into force. Above all, the balance between traffic safety and quality of life is a goal that Hamburg still has to be achieved. In this respect, the question arises: How will the city reconcile the challenges of locomotion and peace for their citizens?

health effects of noise

Excessive noise not only represents a harassment, but can also bring serious health risks. Studies have shown that long-lasting noise of more than 55 decibels increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders and stress. Vulnerable groups, such as children and older people, are particularly affected in their health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise is one of the largest environmental factors that have a negative impact on the quality of life. A WHO study suggests that around 1 million healthy years of life in Europe are lost due to noise annually. This illustrates the urgency to take measures to reduce noise, especially in urban areas such as Hamburg, where traffic noise is mostly the largest source. Further information can be found on the Who-Website .

The political debate at speed 30

The introduction of Tempo 30 on Hamburg's main roads is a politically controversial topic. While the red-green coalition sees the measure as a necessary step to protect the population against noise, opposition parties such as the CDU and AfD criticize the measure as unfair and little sensible. The CDU fears that the introduction of km / h is not only disturbing the flow of traffic, but could also lead to a redirection of traffic into calm residential areas. The AfD even goes so far as to describe the measures as a "fig leaf" and argues that this is a clever way to further hinder car traffic. They argue that the city is dependent on powerful main roads to fulfill its function as a commercial city.

On the other hand, the supporters also point out the need that the city's mobility strategy must be adjusted in order to meet the climate goals. In the regulation of speeds, they see an opportunity to sustainably improve the quality of life in Hamburg. In this context, the Senate must also take the interests of the citizens seriously and develop a balanced traffic concept.

effects on urban development

The expansion of speed 30 could also have long -term effects on urban development. A calm environment not only promotes the quality of life of the residents, but can also increase the demand for real estate in calm, noise. Cities that take noise protection measures and regulate traffic often show a positive development in relation to living space prices and social structures. Studies show that the quality of the urban habitat has a direct impact on the satisfaction of the residents. The city of Hamburg could gain in the long term in the long term, which would also have positive economic effects. Information about this is available on websites on urban development topics such as Stadtentwicklung Hamburg