Heavy congestion observed on the street
Reimagining Zerrennerstraße: ADFC and Critical Mass Reveal High Through-Traffic and Push for Change
Wanna know why Zerrennerstraße in Pforzheim's always crowded? The main culprit? Blame it on the hordes of vehicles passing through, not hanging around! Members of ADFC Pforzheim-Enzkreis and cycling enthusiasts Critical Mass took matters into their own hands with a traffic count on October 1, 2024, confirming the high volume of through-traffic.
They positioned teams at the city library, Rossbrücke, and the Volksbank building during the afternoon rush hour, tracking vehicle movements much like a spy movie's cordon count. And the results were a game-changer: more than two-thirds of cars were merely passing through, not stopping for errands! Only a small fraction had local destinations, which left many drivers frustrated with waiting times of five to seven minutes as they inched their way through!
What's causing this gridlock? You guessed it—you've heard this one before—the dreaded intersection of Leopoldstraße/Zerrennerstraße with the infamous left-turn lane from Zerrennerstraße towards Rossbrücke/Sedanplatz! Seems like the city council didn't listen to traffic experts when they requested this lane, which now necessitates two separate green phases at the traffic light. The original plan intended simultaneous passage for vehicles in both directions, but alas, only about 10% of cars turning left actually head towards Sedanplatz. So, who needs it, right?
ADFC's Marthe Soncourt and Critical Mass' Bastian Wetzke aren't buying it! Marthe reckons that if passing cars shifted to the inner-city ring road, everyone benefits. Cars would zip to their destinations faster, while pedestrians and cyclists would enjoy smoother trips as well. Bastian views the redesign of Zerrennerstraße with improvements for pedestrians and the designated bike lanes as a powerful symbol. It shows that everyone's needs are considered, and the decisions made in Pforzheim stand firm. But there's always room for improvement, and these two are ready to jump into the discussion!
Digging Deeper: Uncovering the Roots of Zerrennerstraße's Traffic Congestion
- Urban Artery: Zerrennerstraße serves as a vital connector for Pforzheim's various districts, making it a favored route for commuters and transit traffic bypassing congested areas.
- Lack of Alternatives: Limited alternative north-south routes force many vehicles, including freight and commuter traffic, to rely on Zerrennerstraße, escalating through-traffic volumes.
- Infrastructure design: The street's structure emphasizes motorized vehicles with multiple lanes and fewer provisions for cyclists or pedestrians, promoting motor traffic flow.
- Urban Development Strategies: Surrounding commercial and residential developments generate local trips that mix with through-traffic, exacerbating congestion.
- Weak Public Transport Networks: Scant or unappealing public transport options lead residents to depend on private cars, augmenting the burden on Zerrennerstraße.
Moving Forward: ADFC and Critical Mass' Proposed Solutions
ADFC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club)
- Enhanced Cycling Infrastructure: ADFC advocates for safer, uninterrupted, and protected cycling lanes on Zerrennerstraße to nudge car-users onto bicycles.
- Traffic Calming Initiatives: They tout traffic-calming measures, such as speed reductions, better pedestrian crossings, and lane-width shrinkage, to deter through-traffic.
- Boosting Public Transport Connections: Support for improved public transport integration and access to encourage motorists to ditch their cars.
- Limiting Through-Traffic: ADFC suggests limiting certain types of through-traffic, like freight vehicles, during peak hours.
Critical Mass
- Car-Free Zones and Events: Critical Mass promotes the creation of car-free zones or periodic car-free days to showcase reduced motorized traffic's benefits and foster a cycling culture.
- Awareness Campaigns: Through organized rides and public events, they raise awareness about traffic's detrimental effects and advocate for more eco-friendly urban mobility systems.
- Policy Lobbying: They lobby for policy transitions that prioritize non-motorized traffic and allocate funds for sustainable infrastructure.
- Community Encouragement: Through engagement, Critical Mass encourages residents to bike or use public transport instead of driving on busy routes like Zerrennerstraße.
The high volume of through-traffic on Zerrennerstraße, a crucial artery for Pforzheim, stems from the lack of alternatives and the street's prioritization of motorized vehicles. Advocacy groups ADFC and Critical Mass are pushing for change, proposing solutions like enhanced cycling infrastructure, traffic-calming measures, improved public transport connections, and car-free zones to address the congestion.
In an effort to combat financial drain due to traffic, ADFC is also advocating for limiting certain types of through-traffic, such as freight vehicles, during peak hours. Meanwhile, Critical Mass is lobbying for policy transitions that prioritize non-motorized traffic and allocate funds for sustainable infrastructure, aiming to foster a culture of eco-friendly urban mobility in the public-transit, finance, and transportation sectors.
