Enhanced Security Levels
Protected Bike Lane Installation Begins on Am Trippelsberg in Reisholzer Harbor
The long-awaited Protected Bike Lane (PBL) project on Am Trippelsberg in Reisholzer Harbor is underway, aiming to enhance cycling safety on this busy and hazardous stretch of road.
Construction works began at the end of 2020, focusing on the most dangerous section between Reisholzer Werftstraße and Karweg. However, only the safer section between Bonnerstraße and Reisholzer Werftstraße has seen actual bike lane markings so far. Delays beyond the originally expected "rapid" timeline have been experienced due to administrative hold-ups and data count issues since summer 2021.
The project aims to protect cyclists from the heavy truck traffic of large logistics companies and overlength double-decker car transporters operating in the area. The section between Reisholzer Werftstraße and Karweg poses the greatest risk due to parked truck trailers and courier vans narrowing the roadway, which frequently obstruct the bike lane space.
The Bürgerinitiative Hafenalarm, a local citizens' initiative, conducted a traffic count on July 8, 2019, to highlight cyclist safety concerns and push for the bike lane. They found that many children are driven to school by car because cycling there is too dangerous.
The PBL will feature red bike lane markings with pictograms at intersections and before driveways to alert motorists to the presence of cyclists. Alongside the roadway, a 20-centimeter-wide separation element will be added to separate the bike lane from the main traffic.
The actual protection by the separation elements will take place at the beginning of next year. These elements will have a concave, ramp-like profile on the bike lane side and the height and appearance of a curb on the road side. Ten-centimeter-high separation curbs are planned, placed at a distance of one meter, centered between the two boundary lines.
The costs for the PBL on Am Trippelsberg are approximately 250,000 euros, with financing coming from the promotion of cycling. The barrier-free expansion of the "Am Trippelsberg" bus stop, estimated at around 100,000 euros, is financed from the local public transport subsidy.
The planned two-way bike lanes will each be 1.95 meters wide. The PBL will not interrupt bus stops, allowing buses to access them barrier-free. The barrier-free expansion of the "Am Trippelsberg" bus stop has already begun as part of the bike lane project.
The PBL project is part of larger cycling routes, including the bike route Erlebnisweg Rheinschiene, the EUROGA bike route, and the Rhine bike route, which run along Am Trippelsberg.
Traffic Commissioner Cornelia Zuschke and the head of the Traffic Management Office, Florian Reeh, have visited the site to assess the planned new bike lane and the proposed separation elements. The installation of the PBL is expected to be completed by the beginning of next week, weather permitting. Despite the delays, the ongoing traffic congestion and parked trucks pose safety risks that the bike lane aims to mitigate. Continued citizen pressure urges local authorities to accelerate completion.
The Protected Bike Lane (PBL) project, financed from the promotion of cycling and local public transport subsidy, is aimed at mitigating safety risks posed by heavy truck traffic and congestion in the transportation sector, specifically along Am Trippelsberg in Reisholzer Harbor, which is part of larger cycling routes such as the bike route Erlebnisweg Rheinschiene, the EUROGA bike route, and the Rhine bike route.
The completion of this PBL project, which includes the addition of separation elements and pictograms, will enable safer transportation for cyclists, including children, who currently face significant risks during their daily commutes. The project, expected to be finished by the beginning of next week, is expected to foster growth in the industry and finance sector by making Reisholzer Harbor a more attractive location for cyclist-friendly businesses.
