"The street belongs to us" is the motto of the children's bicycle demonstration, to which the nationwide action alliance "Kidical Mass" also called on Frankfurt's youngsters this weekend.
Around 300 children and parents gathered on Sunday at Willi-Brandt-Platz to walk from there – sometimes loudly ringing – through the city to the Drachenburg playground in the ramparts near the Eschenheimer facility for around an hour at the children’s own pace to cycle.
The aim of the campaign is to make children more visible as cyclists on the road.
Mechthild Harting
Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
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According to the action alliance, which also includes the ADFC and the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD), road traffic law must become more child-friendly.
So far, children and young people have not been provided for in traffic law as road users outside of cars, it is said.
That is "completely counterproductive".
Climate-friendly transport in cities only works if cycling and walking for short distances is the most attractive option.
Children in particular should be able to travel independently, then they wouldn't need their parents' taxis.
"Our youngest must be able to move freely and safely on the streets in Frankfurt and other Hessian cities," demands Anja Zeller from VCD-Hessen.
In the opinion of the action alliance, protected or structurally separated and wide cycle paths are necessary on all main roads, a speed limit of 30 on these roads and a separate network of cycle paths to guarantee a safe way to school.
It was not only in Frankfurt that children and parents took to the streets by bike this Sunday, around 300 participants also followed the call to protest in Offenbach.
Actions also took place in Wiesbaden and Darmstadt.