Many residents of Sophienstraße are very displeased: according to the city council’s plans, the street is to be closed to car traffic and adapted to the “model solution of the Baden-Württemberg cycle network”. Parking spaces that are no longer usable due to the modifications are now occupied by temporary seating, plants and bicycle stands that are rarely used. The Freie Wähler Karlsruhe and the voter group FÜR Karlsruhe share the skepticism of local residents about the changes and construction measures that are due to begin next year:
“The city administration’s motives for the traffic and construction measures in Sophienstraße are not clear: where does the city’s assumption to adapt the traffic in Sophienstraße to the “model solution of the Baden-Württemberg cycle network” come from without sufficiently informing the residents, let alone involving them in the decision-making process? The city administration must now approach residents and explain itself. We are therefore submitting a list of questions to the city administration in order to clarify the most pressing concerns. So far, the whole project has been perceived as very questionable and not supported by the B.”, says city councillor Petra Lorenz from the Free Voters, who has already exchanged views with the residents of Sophienstraße about the changes in Sophienstraße.
The city administration is expected to take citizens’ questions seriously and to respond to the list of questions in detail and clearly. Here is the complete list of questions for the Karlsruhe city administration:
- Why does the City of Karlsruhe see the need to carry out reconstruction measures in Sophienstraße?
- What are the specific adaptations to the “model solution of the Baden-Württemberg cycle network”?
- Where does the city’s assumption to adapt traffic in Sophienstraße to the “model solution of the Baden-Württemberg cycle network” come from?
- Were residents and tradespeople sufficiently informed?
- How were residents and businesses informed?
- Where can I get more information about the planned conversion measures?
- According to the city council’s plans, when will the renovation work on Sophienstraße begin next year?
- How long will these conversion measures take?
- The temporary seating and bike racks are hardly used. Are there other ways of using the space that has become available?
- How did the decision come about to fill the vacant spaces with seating, plants and bicycle stands?
- On what legal basis was it determined that the parking spaces now occupied are not safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorized traffic?
