Pop-up cycle paths in Würzburg: SPD rejects criticism

Last Thursday, the Würzburg city council submitted an intergroup urgent request from the Greens, the Left, the ZfW and the ÖDP on the subject of pop-up cycle paths. At a total of five locations in the city area, the four parties, who are also members of the “Verkehrswende now” alliance, wanted to convert a car lane into a bike lane at short notice. This should give cyclists the opportunity to better maintain the minimum distance to pedestrians and other cyclists in times of Corona and applicable distance rules.

The SPD, also a member of the Verkehrswende Alliance, voted against the proposal in the city council. The Würzburg Jusos and the Verkehrswende alliance subsequently criticized this behavior. As a result of the reporting by this editorial team, the group leader Alexander Kolbow has now come forward with a statement on the subject. Kolbow explained that the SPD city council group is committed to the sustainable expansion of bicycle traffic: “The emphasis is on sustainable. Whether five specifically proposed Corona transition cycle paths are helpful must be discussed in detail.”

Kolbow wants thoroughness instead of quick shot

Kolbow further emphasizes that it is important for the parliamentary group whether the proposed pop-up cycle paths are safe for traffic and that there may not even be better suggestions. In addition, the question arises for him whether one should prefer to take measures that have already been decided on and tested.

Because the principle of “thoroughness before speed” applies in his group, it is important to deal with the issue in the relevant mobility committee on June 16, instead of daring to take a quick shot now, precisely because a later dismantling of the provisionally arranged cycle paths is difficult to convey. “The SPD city council group expressly considers pop-up cycle paths to be correct if they are safe to drive,” said Kolbow. A good example of this are the wheel tracks set up in Nürnberger Straße, which the city council implemented early. “This is an early construction measure that will be preserved in the long term and does not have to be dismantled after Corona.”

SPD chairman wants to act quickly

The SPD sub-district of Würzburg-Stadt also spoke on the subject with a press release. It states that the party expressly supports the establishment of pop-up cycle paths. The party had a controversial debate as to whether an urgent request was necessary, said Freya Altenhöner, when asked by the editorial team. It is important to her to act as quickly as possible. Altenhöner did not answer the question of whether she supported the behavior of the city council group last Thursday. Instead, she wanted to look ahead and also pull together with the “Verkehrswende now” alliance. Altenhöner is certain that the city council group is positioned correctly here. When asked about the criticism of the Jusos, she explains: “The Jusos can position themselves more clearly, that is even their job.”

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• Wurzburg

• Tim Eisenberger

• Alexander Kolbow

• Group leaders

• pedestrian

• Young Socialists

• Cycling

• Bike paths

• SPD

• SPD chair

• Ecological Democratic Party

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