The Citizens’ Initiative Against Noise Pollution from Hockenheimring: Dealing with Opposition and Seeking Solutions

We have been written about the citizens’ initiative against the noise that comes from the Hockenheimring every day and how we deal with the members:

When it comes to money, neither people’s health nor environmental protection play a role. The Hockenheimring is finally in the black and that’s what counts. As is usually the case, this is obviously all about optimizing profits, regardless of the price.

Actually not a big surprise – and yet the shock is deep: The “Friends of Motorsport” literally bullied the “Initiative against Noise Pollution from the Ring” out of the race. And with – albeit verbal – brute force: Calls on social media not only campaigned for the continued existence of the ring (which was not even up for debate), but also insulted and insulted the members of the citizens’ initiative in the worst possible way. In words that I don’t want to repeat here.

In addition to the insults, a lot of untruths were spread, such as that the residents of Birkengrund finally knew what they were getting into. Yes, even that they received discounts and benefits in return. These claims are absolutely untrue, there were no monetary or other benefits whatsoever, especially since almost all of the land was leased and is not freehold. When the Birkengrund was created and developed, there was a race twice a year on what is now the bypass road, an event that the residents were enthusiastic about. The Hockenheimring in its current form was created years later and even then no one complained because the events were spread out over the year and did not represent a constant nuisance.

Today, however, the ring is used every day – for eleven hours. The residents of Birkengrund cannot use their gardens throughout the summer because people can no longer understand their own words outside the house. Walks in the forest are no longer possible because the engine noise that accompanies you throughout the forest is unbearable and much higher than the permitted decibels.

Apart from the noise pollution, I also don’t understand the double standards where, on the one hand, certain combustion cars are banned in city centers and, on the other hand, it is allowed to blow a lot of exhaust fumes into the air for eleven hours a day, even on weekends, purely for fun.

Be that as it may – I emphasize once again – this is not (and never was) about abolishing the ring, but simply about looking for solutions to reduce the daily noise to a tolerable level. The “friends of motorsport” wouldn’t have to get so upset if they would just listen, weigh up the pros and cons and discuss possible solutions with their “opponents”.

Finally, I have to express my absolute disbelief at how inappropriately the reaction was to completely non-judgmental and objectively presented content.

I have always appreciated the openness and friendliness of the people in our area, but now I don’t know whether it is my nice neighbor or the friendly supermarket clerk who is anonymously showering me with hateful tirades for expressing an opinion. What does such behavior say about the “friends of motorsport”? I have an idea – but I won’t stoop to the same level and swallow my anger.

Gudrun Klingberg, Railings