Pedal Harder: Greens Demand a Kick in Commuter Bike Lane Speed
Exasperating Situation: User Reports Persistent Annoyance - "Greens Demand Acceleration in Expansion of Cycling Infrastructure"
It's high time for a swift push for cyclists: The Rhineland-Palatinate Green faction is demanding faster progress in the construction and planning of commuter bike routes. "It's so infuriating for daily commuters to wait years for the long-awaited commuter route to finally be completed," said mobility policy spokeswoman Lea Heidbreder. Construction of bike lanes needs to speed up significantly in the future. "We must bridge the gap between planning and action as quickly as possible on all routes in the state."
The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) in Rhineland-Palatinate echoes this sentiment. Business manager Robert Wöhler spoke up in favor of an expedited implementation of bike routes.
Seven routes
Seven routes for commuter bike routes have been planned 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 examining their potential. In essence, these bike paths should link "important destinations such as major employment centers, city centers, industrial areas, universities, administrative centers, as well as train stations and residential areas, particularly in densely populated areas," as described by the State Mobility Authority (LBM).
Planning lags behind in many places
However, the combined length of sections that are currently rideable on these routes is still quite limited. According to the Ministry of Transport, led by Daniela Schmitt (GFDP), a first section between Bingen and Heidesheim on the route from Bingen to Mainz was completed at the end of last year, and planning consultations are currently underway for the further stretch to the state capital.
Likewise, small sections have been realized between Konz, Trier, and Schweich, with a roughly three-kilometer stretch in the Verbandsgemeinde Schweich and about 1.3 kilometers in Konz being the most significant. The city of Trier is primarily engaged in renovating the Mosel bike path, which is partially utilized by the commuter bike route.
On the Landau-Neustadt/Weinstraße corridor, the ministry reports that tests and consultations are underway for the joint use of agricultural economic ways and bike traffic. A new bike bridge over the heavily trafficked federal highway B10 near Landau, set to be part of the route, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.
The state is financing feasibility studies to a large extent.
In the case of the Landstuhl-Kaiserslautern corridor, work on a cooperation agreement between the two cities is still ongoing, and the status varies between partial sections of the route between Worms and Karlsruhe/Wörth. Consultations for a cooperation agreement are underway for Worms-Frankenthal-Ludwigshafen, a design plan is to be created for Ludwigshafen-Schifferstadt this year, and there is a small, 300-meter-long inner-city section in Speyer for Schifferstadt-Speyer-Wörth, with planning or consultations ongoing between municipal carriers for the rest.
A feasibility study for the route from Koblenz south to Boppard has been completed and was handed over to the project partners at the end of May. According to the ministry, such a study for the route from Koblenz north to the state border is still pending. This study will examine the possibilities on both the right and left banks of the Rhine.
The Ministry of Transport has stated that implementing the seven route corridors is a top priority for the state government. Municipalities are supported by the State Mobility Authority (LBM). Additionally, the state funds feasibility studies for the routes at 80%, and municipalities can receive subsidies of up to 90% for certain construction costs.
- Transport
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Mainz
- Bingen
- Trier
- Koblenz
- Speed
- Bicycle
- Commuters
- Worms
- Karlsruhe
- Wörth
- Landau
- Boppard
- Route
- Ministry of Transport
Since 2014, Rhineland-Palatinate has identified seven corridors for developing commuter bike routes. However, there is an ongoing struggle for cyclists and the local community as the completion of these projects remains a distant goal.
In the face of growing demand for cycling infrastructure, the Green Party in Rhineland-Palatinate has expressed concerns about the slow pace of bike path construction and is advocating for expedited development. Local communities are eager to see meaningful progress in the construction of these bike routes.
Although the seven corridors were initially designed to enhance cycling connectivity across the region, progress has been slower than expected. Numerous factors, including bureaucratic delays, funding issues, or lack of prioritization, have caused the prolonged construction of these bike routes.
Despite these challenges, Rhineland-Palatinate is known for its scenic long-distance cycling routes, such as the Mosel Radweg, which highlights the region's potential for cycling tourism and infrastructure.
The Green Party in Rhineland-Palatinate calls for faster action in the construction of commuter bike routes, as the ongoing delays hinder daily cyclists and the local community. The seven commuter bike route corridors, planned since 2014, face challenges due to bureaucratic delays, funding issues, or lack of prioritization, causing prolonged construction. However, Rhineland-Palatinate has the potential to boost cycling tourism with established scenic long-distance routes such as the Mosel Radweg, showing the promise for improved cycling infrastructure in the region. The necessity of bridging the gap between planning and action is crucial in the finance, transportation, and home-and-garden industry sectors, as well as the lifestyle of those who live and commute in this region.
