Ready to Pedal Faster: Green Party Urges Speed in Rhineland-Palatinate's Bike Lane Development
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Exasperating Situation Unfolds: Individual Faces Multiple Grievances - "Greens Urge Swift Implementation of Cycling Infrastructure Expansion"
Let's get moving, cyclists! The Rhineland-Palatinate Green Party wants to see faster action on bike lane construction and planning. "It's downright frustrating for local commuters to wait years for the anticipated commuter route to finally materialize," remarks mobility policy spokeswoman Lea Heidbreder. Plans need to be expedited for all routes in the state. "We've got to push from drawing board to action mode on every route!"
The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) in Rhineland-Palatinate agrees. Business manager Robert Wöhler backs a more immediate implementation of bike lanes.
Seven key routes
Their demands target seven planned commuter bike routes in Rhineland-Palatinate: from Bingen to Mainz, along the Upper Rhine between Worms and Karlsruhe/Wörth, from Konz via Trier to Schweich, from Landau to Neustadt/Weinstraße, from Kaiserslautern to Landstuhl, and from Koblenz north to the state border with North Rhine-Westphalia and south to Boppard.
These routes stem from a 2014 study assessing their potential. The proposed routes primarily aim to connect significant destinations like employment centers, city centers, universities, administrative centers, residential areas, train stations, and more, especially in densely populated areas, as explained by the State Mobility Authority (LBM).
Where's the progress?
Despite the planning, the rideable sections on these routes are still quite short. The Ministry of Transport led by Daniela Schmitt (GFDP) completed the first section between Bingen and Heidesheim on the route from Bingen to Mainz at the end of the last year, and consultations are ongoing for the stretch to the capital.
Similarly, sections have been realized between Konz, Trier, and Schweich, but Trier is mainly focused on renovating the Mosel bike path, where the commuter bike route runs partially.
Tests for coexisting in agricultural areas and cycling are underway on the Landau-Neustadt/Weinstraße route. Construction of a bike bridge crossing the heavily trafficked B10 highway near Landau is scheduled to finish by the end of 2024. The bridge will be part of the route.
State funding and subsidies
The State is financing the feasibility studies for these routes to a large extent. For the Landstuhl-Kaiserslautern corridor, cooperation agreements between the two cities are still being worked on, and the status of various route sections between Worms and Karlsruhe/Wörth differ. Plans for a cooperation agreement are underway for Worms-Frankenthal-Ludwigshafen, while a design plan is scheduled for Ludwigshafen-Schifferstadt this year. A small, 300-meter-long inner-city section in Schifferstadt-Speyer-Wörth has planning or consultations ongoing between local authorities elsewhere.
A feasibility study for the route from Koblenz south to Boppard is complete, and it was passed on to project partners at the end of May. The study examining possibilities on both sides of the Rhine for the route from Koblenz north to the state border is still pending.
The Ministry of Transport upholds the importance of implementing these route corridors for the state government. Municipalities are supported by the State Mobility Authority (LBM), and the state finances 80% of feasibility studies for these routes. Additionally, municipalities can receive subsidies of up to 90% for selected construction costs.
- Biking
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Mainz
- Bingen
- Trier
- Koblenz
- Boost
- Commuter
- Worms
- Karlsruhe
- Wörth
- Landau
- Boppard
- Corridor
_Fun Facts:__
- Rhineland-Palatinate is home to stunning cycling routes, including linear parks constructed on old railway lines that provide magnificent natural scenery [1].
- One popular cycling route in the region is the Moselle and Rhine Bike Tour, encompassing picturesque views of the Moselle and Rhine valleys [2]. Always remember that for detailed, up-to-date information on specific bike lane expansions, it's best to reach out to local government or cycling organizations in Rhineland-Palatinate for the most accurate insights.
The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission must collaborate to provide financing and subsidies for the expedited construction of commuter bike routes in Rhineland-Palatinate, such as from Bingen to Mainz, along the Upper Rhine between Worms and Karlsruhe/Wörth, from Konz via Trier to Schweich, from Landau to Neustadt/Weinstraße, from Kaiserslautern to Landstuhl, and from Koblenz north to the state border with North Rhine-Westphalia and south to Boppard. The industry, finance, and transportation sectors should support these initiatives to boost cycling and commuting in Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as sports organizations for promoting sports events and activities along these routes.
