-
fromFabian Scheuermann
–
shut down
–
Pressure on local politicians: The new “Radentscheid Offenbach” initiative is working on a list of demands and preparing to collect signatures. First action on Saturday.
Cycling in Offenbach is – like in many other German cities – dangerous. The last time it hit a 41-year-old woman on Tuesday: the cyclist was seriously injured and taken to the hospital after being hit by a Mercedes during rush hour traffic on Sprendlinger Landstraße. But there is a lot of protest: With the Offenbach cycling decision, cyclists have launched an initiative that demands more security from local politicians for everyone who is cycling in the city.
But it’s also about quality of life. For example, Jochen Terpitz would like to block the two streets on the long sides of Wilhelmsplatz in Offenbach city center from driving. “There is no reason why you would have to drive through here by car,” says the Radentscheid supporter, who lives with his family on the square. Anyone who knows the place knows what Terpitz means: every few minutes, cars squeeze between the outside seating of the many restaurants, between pedestrians and cyclists – even though there are main streets all around. The quality of stay suffers.
The blocking of the streets on Wilhelmsplatz – at least on market days – is one of the demands that the currently around 40 people who are behind the Offenbach cycling decision and who are currently organizing video conferences are in agreement. Further requirements will be specified before the signatures are collected. Because: With a citizens’ request, a city hall resolution is to be brought about, which will result in the improvement of Offenbach’s bicycle infrastructure. The minimum number of signatures of eligible voters that must be collected for this is in Offenbach at 2686.
Pop-up bike trails
Demonstrate nationwideon Saturday, May 23, people to give pedestrians and cyclists more space. To this end, they are setting up pop-up cycle paths in almost forty cities.
Also in OffenbachSuch a temporary bike lane will be created on Waldstraße (corner of Marienstrasse) between 10:30 and 12:30 p.m. In Frankfurt, active people meet at 2 p.m. in front of the “Hammering Man” at the fair.
More informationthe Offenbacher Radentscheid is available on radentscheid- offenbach.de and under “@RadentscheidOF” on Twitter and Facebook. fab
–
Cycling decisions have already been made in Darmstadt and Frankfurt, among others – where the citizens’ petitions initially failed due to formalities, but some demands were or are still to be implemented. On Saturday, the Offenbach cycling decision-makers – together with the Initiative Stadtbiotop and the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) – want to set up a temporary bike path on the extremely bike-unfriendly forest road. Cycling there is perceived by many as very dangerous, says Jochen Teichmann, the spokesman for the new cycling decision. That is why they chose this place.
–
The cycling decision-makers have benevolently noted that the city has been pursuing an ambitious concept for the construction of bicycle roads and routes under the name “Bike Offenbach” for some years. “But these measures are absolutely not sufficient,” says Teichmann. For example, the concept stipulates that you shouldn’t cycle along the main roads, but often in parallel on secondary roads – and often not even on your own bike lanes there. Teichmann therefore demands “a comprehensive network for bicycle traffic” – with fast routes and not in the lane course from side street to side street.
The 59-year-old Teichmann has lived in Offenbach since 1998 and cycles a lot. He also regularly takes part in the local “Critical Mass” – a kind of bicycle demo. It is important to him and Terpitz not to be perceived as extreme. They both emphasize that they also drive a car – just not often, because that is not necessary in the middle of the city.
“We want to reach as many as possible,” says Teichmann. The fact that the self-employed businessman invests so much time in the bike decision is also due to a tragic experience: Last year, a good acquaintance was hit by a car while cycling in Offenbach city center – he did not survive the accident.
–
