The Radentscheid initiative and the city of Offenbach have concluded an agreement to expand the infrastructure for cycling. The first measure is to make the forest road more attractive and safer for cyclists. To implement the agreed measures, an advisory board was set up consisting of representatives from policy, specialist planning and various stakeholders. This met for the first time and discussed and voted on the implementation of an initial bicycle measure in the Waldstraße.
One lane in each direction has been redesigned for cycling
The members of the advisory board discussed various variants of the cycle traffic route between Bleichstraße and Hessenring/Friedrichsring. As a result, a solution emerged in which one lane in each direction was redesigned for bicycle traffic. This means that no parking spaces along the forest road would be lost as a result of this measure. The results of this planning were presented to the city’s Transportation Commission on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Municipal and municipal resolutions will be passed early next year. If these are available, the tendering and contracting of services and then implementation can take place. The initially temporary cycle paths will be set up from spring 2023 for an initial period of one year. After the one-year trial period, the measure will be evaluated and discussed and re-evaluated in the relevant committees. If the conclusion is positive after this testing phase, the project should be consolidated.
Mayor and mobility manager Sabine Groß explains: “The Radentscheid initiative has found almost 6,000 supporters who have signed up in favor of improving the cycling infrastructure. An increasing number of people would also like to cover their distances by bike quickly and safely, and parents want their children to cycle safely, for example to school, the disco or to friends. At the same time, more cycling means fewer traffic jams, less air pollution, less noise and more climate protection, thus increasing the quality of life in our city. With the redesign of the forest road, the first major project of the agreement with Radentscheid is up for voting. At the same time, an improvement of the cycling infrastructure on Frankfurter Strasse is already being studied.” To plan and implement the measures agreed between the city and Radentscheid, financial resources were increased and an additional staff post established in the Mobility Office was allocated.
background
In October 2021, the citizens’ initiative of Radentscheid presented a catalog of requests and signature lists with the aim of further improving the conditions for cycling in Offenbach through a referendum. Of the 5,881 signatures presented, 4,492 were valid: the initiative had thus reached the necessary quorum. The citizens’ initiative of the “Radentscheid Offenbach” initiative is legally inadmissible. The Radentscheid Offenbach initiative and the city of Offenbach have reached an agreement and agreed on a list of measures for the next five years. In this agreement, the city undertakes to provide around 600,000 euros of its own funds for planning and implementation in the form of signage, signage and, if necessary, construction work. Furthermore, an advisory board was set up with representatives from politics, administration, Radentscheid, ADFC, VCD, Chamber of Crafts, IHK and ADAC.
(Text: PM Municipality of Offenbach)
