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Brehmstraße Street in Dusseldorf's Dusseltal district introduces a temporary bike lane for cyclists.

Despite the high number of bike owners in Düsseldorf, just a fraction of city journeys are completed by bicycle.

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3 min read
The majority of Duesseldorf's residents (80%) own a bicycle, yet only a small proportion (5%) of...
The majority of Duesseldorf's residents (80%) own a bicycle, yet only a small proportion (5%) of their urban journeys are undertaken by cycling. This disparity suggests that while bicycles are widely possessed, they are infrequently utilized for city commutes.

Brehmstraße Street in Dusseldorf's Dusseltal district introduces a temporary bike lane for cyclists.

Biking in Dusseldorf: Citizens Take Matters into Their Own Hands

In Dusseldorf, four out of five residents own a bicycle, yet only one-fifth of city trips are made by bike. Despite the city's promises, cycling routes remain small and disconnected, prompting the "Extinction Rebellion" to take action on July 22. From 11 am to 2 pm, they established a short-lived bike lane on the bustling Lastritring B8, offering cyclists a safer route.

Cyclists dream of this arrangement, not just on Brehmstraße and elsewhere: a distinct space, unbound by motorized traffic.

Injured Cyclists and Pedestrians

The increasing number of injured cyclists and pedestrians last year hints at the flaw in Dusseldorf's traffic policy. Elena Orths of Extinction Rebellion Dusseldorf remarks, "It's against people, not ensuring mobility for all." Driven by a desire for change, citizens seized the traffic space for their own benefit. On July 22, cyclists navigated safely between Brehmplatz and Heinrichstraße, detached from car traffic.

Support from ADFC Dusseldorf

ADFC Dusseldorf's chairwoman, Lerke Tyra, often avoids Brehmstraße due to safety concerns. Yet, on July 22, she found solace as motorcycle police secured the bike lane, deterring careless vehicles. Traffic cones etched the ground for a single-lane-only policy, though some motorists grumbled in disapproval.

Inflating Tires and Chatting

At the Brehmplatz rest stop, air for tires, cookies for energy, and stimulating discussions awaited. Meanwhile, the Pedal Rebellion met at Brehmplatz to concoct future ideas. There, they swiftly inflated their tires with foot pumps and shared food and drinks.

Together, they emphasized the snail's pace of major cycling route development in Dusseldorf.

Return to the Status Quo

Nora Schareika of Extinction Rebellion Dusseldorf described the daily struggle of cycling without a pop-up bike lane to control traffic: "On Brehmstraße, I vie for space beyond four lanes of car traffic. Dangerous, just like typical Dusseldorf — swift, reckless overtaking without safe distances. I wouldn't let my children ride here alone."

The Extinction Rebellion is an international organization that uses actions like the pop-up bike lane to call attention to upcoming environmental catastrophes and advocate for sustainable solutions.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) Düsseldorf, much like other XR groups, focuses on bringing environmental issues to the forefront and advocating for eco-friendly practices. In the spirit of change, they established a temporary bike lane to showcase the need for improved cycling infrastructure and more sustainable transportation options.

By visually demonstrating the feasibility and importance of dedicated cycling routes, they seek to raise awareness, influence public opinion, and pressure city officials to implement permanent bike lanes. The temporary bike lane offers the public a glimpse of the improved safety and convenience that can result from proper cycling infrastructure.

While the influence of a single pop-up bike lane is immediate and short-lived, it forms part of a broader campaign to alter urban development priorities and promote sustainable transportation choices.

  1. Extinction Rebellion Düsseldorf aims to highlight environmental concerns and promote eco-friendly practices by advocating for sustainable transportation options like cycling infrastructure.
  2. On July 22, XR Düsseldorf established a temporary bike lane to demonstrate the need for improved cycling infrastructure and safer routes for cyclists.
  3. The pop-up bike lane, as seen on Lastritring B8, offers a visual representation of the enhanced safety and convenience that could be achieved with permanent bike lanes.
  4. This temporary measure is part of a larger campaign by XR Düsseldorf to influence public opinion and pressure city officials into implementing permanent cycling infrastructure.
  5. Curious onlookers, cyclists, and pedestrians can observe and share their support for the temporary bike lane, hoping it will lead to long-term changes for Düsseldorf's traffic policy.
  6. With the temporary bike lane, XR Düsseldorf also showcases their commitment to various aspects of sustainable living, including fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and shopping, all geared towards creating a more eco-friendly lifestyle in Düsseldorf's urban development.

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