Wilhelmsplatz: fewer cars, more bicycles

• fromEast Tinç

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The results for a traffic-calmed Wilhelmsplatz paint a differentiated picture. The coalition is in favor of an extension of the test phase with closed side streets. Lord Mayor Felix Schwenke also for change.

No cars at all on Wilhelmsplatz? Cars only at certain times? Or a completely different solution? “I hope for a factual debate,” said Mayor Felix Schwenke (SPD) after the presentation of the results of the market research on the subject of traffic-calmed Wilhelmsplatz. The side streets were partially closed between August 18 and November 18. During these three months, the market research company LQM from Mainz surveyed and evaluated market feeders, retailers, restaurateurs, residents and visitors to the weekly market, as well as the citizens.

“There is a predominantly positive image for traffic calming,” said Ute Kerber, the managing director of LQM. While visitors found the closure to be mostly good, those in the market were rather critical of it. “The great value of the study is that we have a very differentiated picture,” says Kerber.

Felix Schwenke therefore sees it as a mandate to politicians to draw the right conclusions from the results. “From safety to environmental protection, there are enough reasons that speak for traffic calming,” said Schwenke. For example, he could imagine that the square would still be accessible to traffic between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., because the survey showed that many affluent people come by car on market days.

The head of the transport department, Paul Gerhard Weiß (FDP), suggested setting up a round table as the next step. “You still have to be able to reach the weekly market in a wide variety of ways, including by car,” emphasized Weiß. It must be a workable solution, it is not enough to simply put up a sign

The parliamentary group leaders of the governing coalition spoke out in favor of reintroducing traffic calming as in the test until a permanent solution was found. For a permanent solution, structural measures are necessary, for which retractable bollards are conceivable. Roland Walter (CDU), Ursula Richter (Greens), Dominik Schwagereit (FDP) and Dennis Lehmann (Free Voters) said: “The traffic calming increases the feeling of security as well as the quality of stay and quality of life for the people.”

Last summer, the coalition decided to calm traffic precisely at market times. “The results of the survey impressively show a high level of approval for this, as well as for other sub-measures such as the creation of additional parking spaces for bicycles,” declared the group leaders.

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