According to the city council’s plans, the important east-west link is to be given a cycle path. To this end, parking spaces are to be removed to create sufficient space for bicycle traffic. Local residents have made it clear that the parking situation is already tense. With the new cycle path, a further 120 parking spaces would disappear.
The city council group comprising the Free Voters and “FÜR Karlsruhe” is critical of the city’s plan:
“We must take the concerns of citizens and residents seriously. To implement a lane for bicycles as a solution without first having developed a solid replacement for the parking spaces that will be lost is, in my opinion, a serious shortcoming. The availability of parking spaces for residents is essential, especially if we want to promote bicycle-friendliness together with all residents. That is why we were unable to give our approval to the new cycle lane as a separate lane in the municipal council,” said parliamentary group leader Friedemann Kalmbach (FÜR Karlsruhe).
As an alternative, the city council groups had proposed a protective cycle lane, which would increase visibility for motorists.
The interests of the cycling association and the affected residents are clashing head-on in the planning for the western Kriegsstraße. So far, the city administration has not been able to credibly communicate its inclusion of residents with cars. A parking space concept has not yet been presented, but the administration is now tackling this. It also became clear in the municipal council that the position of the bus stop is not legally fixed, but is the wish of the city, which commissions the transport companies.
Early public participation could have at least mitigated the conflict and led to a better balance of interests. The fact that the city administration simply provided information but avoided a discussion with the citizens was not a good sign.
