What should Wiesbaden's Nerostraße look like in the future, and who may use it?

More than 120 residents and citizens from the district recently discussed and argued intensively and emotionally about these questions.

The people of Wiesbaden came together at the invitation of the Mitte local advisory board, because the city is planning to calm traffic on the street as part of the city center master plan.

Supporters and numerous opponents spoke up: dealers fear for customers, families for the possibility of taking their children to the day care center by car.

The dispute over the street also represents the fundamental question of who will be able to claim public space in the cities for themselves in the future.

"It's about making it possible for the residents of Nerostraße to have a street worth living in," said mayor Guido Haas (Die Grünen).

"And to upgrade non-motorized traffic." In November 2022, the Mitte local council decided by a narrow majority to ask the magistrate to test convert Nerostraße into a traffic-calmed area.

"Traditionally a residential and commercial street"

The Head of Traffic Andreas Kowol (Die Grünen), a declared advocate of traffic calming measures, said that a pedestrian zone in the adjacent Saalgasse is conceivable in the medium term.

"The idea is that we create highly attractive urban spaces that bring a high quality of stay with them," he outlined his ideas.

At the same time, he reassured the residents of Nerostrasse that no pedestrian zone was planned there.

In addition, the necessary traffic must be maintained, it is about increasing the living and quality of life on Nerostraße.

Kowol categorically ruled out revitalizing the street as a party mile.

For Marc Wahler, homeowner and resident, Nerostraße is “traditionally a residential and commercial street.

I cannot understand that the city is interfering with a functioning system.” Markus Wucherpfennig, antiques dealer, is a declared opponent of traffic calming measures on the street.

“We all live from the fact that our customers can park with us.

If traffic is calmed, even more parking spaces will be cleared,” Wucherpfennig warned.

"Have you ever seen one of my customers with a Biedermeier chest of drawers on his back?"

"I'm afraid that all parking spaces will be taken away from us," said Michael Göbel, homeowner, and Peter Schöger made it clear: "We want to keep the neighborhood attractive for the residents." Both are skeptical about the announced improvement in the quality of life and fear noise at night.

arguments on both sides

Thomas Schachler, owner of a wine bar with outdoor gastronomy and member of the Nerostraße worth living initiative, countered in the discussion: "We don't want to become an expressway, which we already are in part." He called for more seating and plants.

Numerous speakers criticized that the sidewalks were blocked with parked cars and that it was unreasonable, especially for elderly and disabled people, to use the street.

"The street is worth living for me if there is a tree and no car," said one resident.

Meanwhile, two students warned of further gentrification of the street and rising rents if Nerostrasse became more attractive.

"Should we let the street be neglected?" A local resident then remarked sarcastically.

There was no rapprochement between the two camps in the course of the discussion.

Sascha Baron, head of the city's traffic planning department, made it clear that only compromises could lead to a solution.

The city will now develop the proposals for this.