Proceedings in the Administrative Court of Düsseldorf have been officially concluded.
In a surprising turn of events, the Protected Bike Lane (PBL) on Hohenzollernstraße in Mönchengladbach has been discontinued following a court decision. The administrative court of Düsseldorf (6 K 11166/24) issued the ruling, which discontinued the city's traffic regulation regarding the PBL during the summer holidays.
The PBL was initially implemented provisionally due to an urgent decision during the Easter holidays. However, the court decision did not affect the need for a solution for local cycling traffic, and a solution still needs to be found.
The total cost of the PBL project, including demolition, renewal, and court costs, was approximately 830,000 euros. The initial construction of the bike lane cost around 530,000 euros, while the demolition and renewal after the court ruling amounted to roughly 230,000 euros. Legal fees incurred by the city were approximately 70,000 euros, and the opposing party's legal fees are expected to amount to around 1,250 euros.
Unfortunately, the amount of 200,000 euros does not cover the costs for the demolition of the Protected Bike Lane. The city also has to bear the court costs, including the plaintiff's legal fees, but the city's estimated costs for the roadway renewal do not include the costs for the demolition of the PBL.
The city removed the adhesive curbs during the roadway renewal, which was already planned for 2026/2027. For now, cyclists will have to deal with the bumpy old bike lane. Architect Christoph Schmitz and lawyer Olaf Moehring, who filed a lawsuit against the PBL, are satisfied with the outcome. They considered the PBL a total misjudgment.
As the city moves forward, it will be crucial to find a suitable solution for local cycling traffic while ensuring compliance with the court decision and managing costs effectively.
- While seeking a solution for local cycling traffic, it is essential for the city to collaborate with the finance industry to secure funding for the Protected Bike Lane's demolition and renovation costs.
- In light of the recent discontinuation of the PBL, it becomes imperative for the transportation sector to work closely with the city government to find alternative traffic solutions that cater to cyclists' needs while adhering to the court decision.
