City Council Endorses Bicycle Path Identification on Bayerische Platz in April; Here's the Footage
Renovation Plans for Bavarian Square and Windmills Street Delayed Until 2035, Urgent Action Taken for Cyclist Safety
Initial plans called for the completion of renovations at Bavarian Square and Windmills Street by now. However, the intricate nature of the intersection has resulted in repeated postponements, with construction not expected to commence before 2035. This delay has led to issues such as worn-out cyclist markings, creating new hazards, particularly for the numerous cyclists.
To address this immediate concern, five city council members combined forces and submitted an urgent application to the administration in February. Among them were Anja Feichtinger (SPD), Frank Franke (SPD), Sascha Jecht (BSW), Ralf Pannowitsch (BSW), and Franziska Riekewald (The Left). It was Pannowitsch who discussed the matter during the council meeting on May 21st, emphasizing the swift response from the traffic department.
"The Bavarian Square intersection will undergo necessary safety improvements, including the renewal of the colored, directional bike lane markings. This task is expected to be completed within three months from the decision being made," the five council members requested. They offered a detailed rationale.
Navigating this heavily trafficked intersection, cyclists can travel in both directions, with separate traffic lights installed. Oftentimes, external drivers fail to recognize the presence of two-way bike traffic, stemming from the faded large arrows on the bike lane. These markings, worn out due to extensive use, no longer guarantee the safety of cyclists, as one of the applicants can attest to several close calls from personal experience.
The urgency of the matter requires the immediate restoration of the bike lane markings at the intersection before its scheduled comprehensive renovation in the coming years.
Although the application was only on the agenda of the council meeting on May 21st, the Mobility and Infrastructure Department had already responded in April by instructing the renovation of the bike lane markings.
The department's statement also offered a glimpse of when the Bavarian Square/Windmills Street intersection might finally be rebuilt: "The Bavarian Square/Windmills Street/Greenwald Street intersection is slated for renovation as part of the comprehensive measure of the MTA and the L-group only from 2035 onwards. Until then, the marking including the red marking of the bike lane will be renewed to ensure traffic safety."
Work has already begun on the renewal of the bike lane markings and is expected to be completed by mid- to late April 2025. The staff at the site are employing a crack filling material and bituminous material to ensure a long-lasting, visibly clear, and durable surface.
Mayor Burkhard Jung expressed his gratitude for the swift response while jokingly expressing apprehension that this quick fulfillment of requests might become a habit. Despite the rapid response, he questioned the administration's ability to maintain such a swift pace.
Ralf Pannowitsch, in his gratitude, emphasized the need for the marking of the bike lane on the eastern side of the Bavarian Square to be attended to as soon as possible.
Safety Measures and Marking Connectivity
In related news, recent projects aim to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. This includes raising road levels, reducing speed limits to 30 km/h, installing dedicated two-way cycle lanes, and creating pedestrian- and cyclist-only crossings. New cycle paths may be connected to existing ones with clear markings and improved signage, with work proceeding in phases, although specific start or completion dates for marking certain sections are usually announced by local authorities as work progresses.
- Given the worn-out cyclist markings at the Bavarian Square intersection and the urgency to ensure safety, the five city council members requested an immediate renovation of the colored, directional bike lane markings, aiming for completion within three months from the decision being made.
- Simultaneously, the Mobility and Infrastructure Department has already begun the renewal of the bike lane markings at the Bavarian Square intersection, with the staff employing a crack filling material and bituminous material to ensure a long-lasting, visibly clear, and durable surface, expected to be completed by mid- to late April 2025.
