Resentment in Albstadt: Motorists demand the end of the Tempo 30 regulation

Resentment in Albstadt: Motorists demand the end of the Tempo 30 regulation

In Albstadt-Laufen, the construction site for the new tunnel last Friday, and this quickly caused resentment among the population. Drivers and residents complain about the diversion, which not only makes detours necessary, but also entails speed restrictions. Tempo 30 now applies on the entire diversion route from Lautlingen via Margrethausen to Balingen-Dürrwangen. This measure leads to longer travel times and ensures frustration among the commuters.

A particularly affected citizen is Valerie Schmid, 39 years old and living in Margrethausen. She drives to Frommern to work every day and reports that she now takes around 20 minutes longer to reach her workplace. This is a significant burden for them. She comments concerned about the traffic situation after the summer vacation, and the uncertainty about future conditions only contributes to her discomfort.

Petition at speed 30

In the hope of doing something against the speed restriction, Valerie Schmid launched an online petition. Already two days after the diversions began, she demands from the city of Albstadt that the Tempo 30 signs are removed and the old regulation of km / h rested. In her petition, she argues that lower speeds not only increase emissions, but also increase noise pollution and slow down the flow of traffic.

Schmid notes that more pollutants are emitted by higher speeds in low gear. "Please again 50 km/h!", She demands and considers the speed control as "nonsense". She is also of the opinion that the city only wants to tap money from the drivers with a newly set -up speed camera that serves to control the speed limits. She shares this assessment with many others who support the petition. So far, almost 180 people have joined the petition, and supporters from various surrounding communities are added.

Government Defends

The city administration and the regional council of Tübingen, however, defend the new regulations as necessary measures. According to a message from the RP, speed reductions are common from a doubling of traffic, especially for noise reduction in the residential areas. This regulation was the desire of the residents and the city, which would like to reduce the burden of heavy goods traffic. They emphasize that it is a standard measure to maintain the quality of life in the affected areas.

Despite these explanations, there is great skepticism and displeasure over the implementation in many corners of the population. The residents particularly emphasize the decreasing quality of life through these measures. 90-year-old Otto Leibold describes the new challenges with which he is faced with when walking in Margrethausen. "You can't get through with a stroller," he said frustrated and criticized the placement of the new traffic signs that make it difficult for pedestrians to walk safely on the sidewalks.

The petition of Valerie Schmid runs up to two months, and it needs at least 750 signatures to move the city of Albstadt to a dialogue. So far, the city has not received direct information about the petition. The outcome remains exciting, while discussions about the future of traffic regulations in Albstadt-Laufen will continue to be initiated.

A look at the traffic situation

The persistent debates about speed limits not only show the displeasure of the residents, but also open an important topic of urban development and traffic planning. It remains to be seen how those responsible will react to the votes of the citizens and whether alternative solutions can be found to improve the traffic situation.

Background of the speed reduction

The decision to introduce a speed limit to 30 km/h in the affected towns was made by the local authorities on the basis of traffic safety analyzes. These analyzes show that a reduction in speed in areas with increased traffic volume, especially during extensive diversions, is necessary to improve both the safety of pedestrians and the quality of life of the residents. This in particular protects vulnerable road users such as children and older people who are on footpaths and roads.

The measure was also justified by the fact that a higher proportion of heavy goods traffic on the detour routes can be expected, which would increase noise emissions in the residential areas. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure this is a common practice to regulate both traffic and to take into account ecological and health issues.

Reactions of the population

The reactions to speed reduction are mixed. While drivers such as Valerie Schmid and many supporters of their petition find the measure to be stressful, there are also voices that consider the speed limit necessary. Associations and groups on traffic safety and health indicate that a reduction in speed not only contributes to improving traffic safety, but can also increase the quality of life in residential areas. This can cause residents to suffer less from the noise and exhaust gas pressure from vehicle traffic.

In addition, a survey of the ADAC that a majority of the population supports speed limits in residential areas in order to increase security for pedestrians and cyclists. These diverse views reflect the different priorities within the community.