“We need a paradigm shift in the design of mobility in the city,” demanded Jochen Teichmann, spokesman for the Radentscheid Offenbach initiative, at the beginning of the bicycle demo.
© schuba
A huge column of cyclists rolled through Offenbach on Saturday: In the morning, around 170 cyclists gathered in front of the town hall to then travel together to various stations from Bürgel to the harbor stairs. All of this did not happen as a leisurely spring excursion, but was connected with a serious concern: Under the organizational direction of the “Radentscheid Offenbach”, the extra-parliamentary initiatives Fridays For Future, the ADFC Offenbach, the VCD regional group Rhein-Main, the citizens’ initiative Naturally Bieber- Waldhof, the local Agenda 21, the port 2 and the natural angel Heusenstamm called for a bicycle demonstration.
Offenbach – Guided by the motto “Offenbach on the bike – traffic turnaround now”, the parade drew attention to its political goals at rallies in various parts of the city. The Radentscheid also used the opportunity to continue the collection of signatures that has been ongoing since September, which is intended to encourage politicians to improve the traffic conditions for cyclists in Offenbach.
“We need a paradigm shift in the design of mobility in Offenbach,” demanded Jochen Teichmann, the initiative’s spokesman and one of three shop stewards alongside Harry Neß and Kai Kotzian. In his opening speech in front of the town hall, he pointed out the “six clear demands on Offenbach politics” in order to get the traffic turnaround on track: In addition to a continuous and efficient network of cycle paths, these include safe cycle paths and footpaths, safe crossings, and more mobility options , residential areas with restricted access without through traffic and more parking spaces for bicycles.
Some of these requirements would already be found in resolutions in the traffic development plan adopted in 2007, but have not yet been implemented to a large extent. In the meantime, a traffic development plan with a focus on 2035 was running at the municipal authorities. “We can no longer afford to adopt beautiful goals for 2035 and to postpone politically demanding decisions again and again in the here and now,” said Teichmann in his address. “Anyone who describes the implementation of political decisions as radical misjudges the current political pressure to act.”
That is why the Radentscheid referendum provided an implementation period of five years and regular status reports were requested. “We are met with sympathy, with interest”. In the meantime, several discussions have been held with the parliamentary groups and the administration: “But it shouldn’t cost anything.” The planning basis could no longer be the inevitable increase in the number of vehicles in Offenbach: “Investing now with courage in the mobility transition also means lower follow-up costs of climate change in the future. ”One must ask oneself which measures are necessary in order to achieve the goals of climate protection, traffic safety and the quality of life in our city.
The other initiatives involved in the bicycle demo followed these goals and demands of the bicycle decision.
Following Jochen Teichmann’s opening speech, the bicycle parade started moving to Bürgel, where the next rally took place. Via Rumpenheim, Waldheim, Bieber and the Hessenring the way led the demonstration to the harbor stairs. Additional speeches were given at each stop.
Over the entire tour, around 250 participants attended the bike demo. Despite a puncture that was quickly resolved, the schedule was adhered to, so that all participating initiatives were able to deliver their “crisp speeches”, as Jochen Teichmann happily emphasized, at their respective posts on time.
By the way, things will continue next Sunday: Then the participants in the cycling decision will take part in a rally over the blocked A661 to Frankfurt in order to demonstrate, in addition to more than 40 other initiatives under the motto # Klima-Gerecht-Unterwegs, for a consistent change in mobility.
By Jan Schuba
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