The construction and expansion of cycle paths and footpaths is financed to a large extent with money from federal and state coffers.

But the decision about the concrete design of the paths still lies solely with the cities and municipalities.

The Hessian Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (The Greens) left no doubt about that when he and two local politicians from the Rhine-Main area described the effects of a “local mobility guideline” five years after it was formulated.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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Al-Wazir emphasized that the municipalities' right to self-government also applies to planning.

The Mayor of Oberursel, Antje Runge (SPD), and the responsible Darmstadt department head, Michael Kolmer (The Greens), claimed that they were best able to assess the specific practical issues.

For this reason alone, a control function by the state does not make sense.

However, they also emphasized that the residents had to be involved in the planning in order to resolve unavoidable conflicts.

New solutions for stationary traffic

They are occurring because vehicles are getting bigger and traffic is increasing, but not because of the available space, Al-Wazir noted.

He pointed out that car registrations continued to rise.

Stationary traffic in particular requires a lot of space.

If possible, other solutions should be found for vehicles parked at the side of the road, such as neighborhood garages.

However, the costs should remain reasonable.

"The most expensive thing about new buildings are the underground garages," says Al-Wazir.

In his capacity as Minister for Housing, he always warns local politicians against exaggerating their parking space regulations.

Runge explained that many car owners are obviously not aware that the parking lot in front of their house is mostly on public land and is not their private property.

Awareness of the equal rights of road users must be sharpened.

In his press conference, Al-Wazir called on the two local politicians as key witnesses, so to speak, for the fact that the local mobility guidelines ensure a “very high level of satisfaction” on all sides.

The state has taken on about 60 percent of the investments in closing gaps in the inner-city cycle and pedestrian network, Runge reported.

This would create safe, attractive and barrier-free connections in the city center, especially between the train station, schools and residential areas.

"Cycle paths and sidewalks are no longer appendages to a road"

Kolmer reported that the Darmstadt-Frankfurt high-speed cycle link is under construction.

A direct connection from Darmstadt to Roßdorf will be funded with 2.2 million euros.

The inner-city north-south route along Heidelbergerstrasse and Neckarstrasse is due this summer, said Kolmer, who is running for mayor in Darmstadt.

"We have enabled almost 600 projects for cycle paths and footpaths in Hessian municipalities and thus triggered a boost in investment for local mobility," said the minister.

This also included crossing aids and lowered curbs, parking facilities and multi-storey car parks for bicycles, pedestrian and cycle path bridges and help with planning.

"Cycling and walking are an important part of everyday and, above all, climate-friendly mobility," said Al-Wazir.

This not only increases traffic safety, but also the quality of life in the inner cities.

According to Al-Wazir, the country now spends more than 20 million euros a year on this.

"Cycle paths and footpaths are no longer appendages to a road, but part of a municipal or district-wide network of paths." A further 48 million euros will be available this year and next.

The federal government also supports local mobility projects.

In 2020, he approved a total of 70 million euros for footpath and cycle path projects as part of the new “Stadt und Land” program.

Thanks to the Hessian local mobility guideline, the state was able to process the funding directly and quickly.

Al-Wazir: Local mobility policy is extended

Even before the official start of the program, information material was prepared for the towns and communities.

According to Al-Wazir, around 100 additional projects have been implemented with federal funds since 2020.

The federal government has promised a further eleven million euros per year by 2028.

Al-Wazir announced that the short-distance mobility directive would be extended, but that criticism from local authorities would also be taken into account.

This gave them more time to implement a project.

In response to acute crises, the country takes on unforeseeable and unavoidable cost increases.

In addition, traffic trials would be encouraged.

This also includes scientific support in order to be able to try out innovative solutions, especially in the centers.