Auto-Club sues against new cycle paths in Munich

Pop-up bike lanes in Munich

"Ideological wishful thinking creates traffic jams": Auto club sues city over new bike lanes

Auto-Club sues against new cycle paths in Munich-auto-club

Mobile in Germany Michael Haberland from Autoclub Mobil in Germany is suing against new cycle paths in Munich. The now permanently installed "Pop-up bike lanes" are not used enough in his opinion to justify the traffic jams caused

  • Site online editor Sebastian Viehmann

Munich is eliminating thousands of parking spaces and cutting lanes for more bicycle traffic. What is well received by many Munich residents causes more traffic jams on the other side. Michael Haberland from the Auto Club "Mobile in Germany" now suing the city.

The picture is symbolic: Michael Haberland is sitting on a camping chair in the middle of a wide bike path in downtown Munich on Elisenstrasse. There is clearly more traffic on the car lane next to it than on the bike lane. Munich has installed a whole series of them – and thus made the pop-up cycle paths, which were actually only temporarily installed during the lockdown, a permanent institution. Not for long when it comes to Haberland: The president of the car club "Mobile in Germany" will now file a lawsuit against the new cycle paths in the administrative court.

"Our deck chair campaign is intended to be a demonstration that the new permanent cycle paths are not being used in the way intended by the green-red city government. It is easily possible to have a coffee or read the newspaper there in peace without disturbing anyone. Because there are hardly any cyclists on the road. Rather, cars get stuck in the remaining lane, endure stop-and-go and agonizing traffic, and lose valuable life time because there is an empty bike lane to their right instead of a lane", says Haberland to Site.

Cyclists against drivers: Conflict inevitable

According to city data, up to 2,500 cyclists used the new cycle lanes every day during the test phase, compared to four times as many cars in the car lanes. Haberland doubts these figures – there is much less bicycle traffic. A survey by the bicycle association ADFC showed that the pop-up cycle paths were apparently well received by many Munich residents – and they scored the points as the biggest annoyance with the bicycle-friendliness of their city "Conflicts with automobiles" and "Driving in mixed traffic with cars" declarations. In 2019 there was one "cycling decision", implemented by the city. It is unlikely that Haberland’s lawsuit against the new cycle paths will be successful before the administrative court.

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"We are experiencing a paradigm shift"

One point, however, can hardly be disproved: the disappearance of lanes has led to more traffic jams at many critical points. And that despite the fact that there are still fewer cars than before Corona, also because of the large number of people working from home. Those who can avoid downtown Munich by car – but by no means everyone switches to cycling or public transport, especially not in Corona times. Haberland is angry: "Politics without brains and reason and not based on facts, but only on ideological wishful thinking. The city should empower people. Especially now in and after the Corona period. The Oktoberfest is cancelled. Lots of events too. The gastro is on the ground, the city center is deserted", according to the head of the auto club.

Auto-Club sues against new cycle paths in Munich-sues

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His opponents argue that the Munchner would have voted exactly for this policy. "We are currently experiencing a paradigm shift in transport policy, which is based on the desire of many residents according to environmental and human friendly as well as socially equitable mobility. The question of how we move in the future is crucial for the quality of life of a city", Says the Munich green politician Katrin.

Munich does not want cars anymore

In any case, the green red governed the focus on the focus on cycling. Parking and lane must be soft, first of the old town ring and perspective many more city areas should be car-free. 73 kilometers of bike paths are planned – 130 million euros will cost the taxpayer. 6000 parking spaces are to be eliminated and also fell 250 trees.

What matters well in many dealers, annoys professional commuters. But turning away from this policy is unlikely: even the CSU supports the anti-car course. Even the IAA motor show, which will take place in Munich for the first time in 2021, is viewed extremely critically by the city administration behind the scenes. The city financed with over 400.000 euros one "Mobility Congress", which is to be held parallel to the IAA and which is only about alternative mobility without cars.

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14 thoughts on “Auto-Club sues against new cycle paths in Munich

  1. is the same from Heidelberg to Neckargemund
    One lane is gone, a cycle lane was created with a complex concrete separation, in addition to the … existing cycle path installed. And I really only see individual cyclists from time to time. From Schlierbach almost none. What shoud that? Traffic is jammed next to it. What is environmentally friendly? The Greens want us theirs "world savior ideology" impose and thus create more exhaust gases, pollutants and dangerous situations than ever before.

  2. is the same from Heidelberg to Neckargemund
    One lane is gone, and a cycle lane was installed in addition to the existing cycle path, which was laboriously separated with concrete. And I really only occasionally see individual cyclists. From Schlierbach almost none. What shoud that? Traffic is jammed next to it. What’s eco-friendly about that?? The Greens want us theirs "world savior ideology" impose and thus create more exhaust gases, pollutants and dangerous situations than ever before.

  3. The time of cars is over
    Perhaps drivers will use the time gained in traffic jams to think about a better way to get to their destination – switching to a bicycle, for example. Many young people have already written off the car and make no driving license – they will not need a car. The time of cars is over – we hear the first notes of the farewell.

  4. You better scream
    not so loud. In the end it could be that you need an ambulance, but it doesn’t come and instead the ambulance has to visit you by bike. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rush… .

  5. Mr. Haberland seems very confident …..
    ….To have tolerance and consideration for cyclists when sitting down in the middle of the cycle path. How would he have fared if he sat down in the middle of the road?. Incidentally, the article stated that there were four times as many vehicles on the road as on the cycle path. However, the roadway is much wider than 4 times as wide as the cycle path, so ultimately the cycle path is better used than the roadway.

  6. Cycling is far too dangerous
    Who drives by bike, stands with 1 leg in prison. Not quite, but the risk of doing something forbidden is much greater. The only thing you don’t need to do is to stop at a pedestrian traffic light on the cycle path that runs parallel to a main road (pedestrians have long gone). Then that’s 3 points for a qualified red light violation + over 100 euros. By the way, bicycle police officers do the same. But they don’t have to stop.

  7. Unfortunately, bicycles do not have number plates
    Then things would change. Liability insurance must also be introduced. I had an accident because of cyclists, was seriously injured, was in different hospitals for over a year. Was according to. An event that I cannot avoid. And: cyclists don’t have insurance, the general public pays for treatment costs, and I’m left with the damage.

  8. problem of the city and its environs
    Above all, the problem is that the city dwellers who determine the policy, OTF no car need – they have the luxury short way, well-developed public transport at any day and night time. From the village it is much more difficult – I can reach the next long-distance train station three times a day with 3 hours’ travel time by public transport – so I can hardly use public transport, and a 100 km bike ride before reaching the long-distance train is also impractical. But now the cities also get higher allocations in the system of central places because they are supposed to offer services for the surrounding area that should not exist there from a planning point of view – hospitals, high schools, universities, etc. On the one hand getting extra money for it and on the other hand doing everything that the villager can’t do is dishonest.

  9. Urgently necessary
    Nothing against cycling in general. But it is still a minority that uses the bike for personal mobility (and in all weathers). And (unfortunately) a lot of cyclists stick to no regulations and are often completely ruthless. That’s why I’m calling for the introduction of compulsory labeling for all bicycles. And on this occasion one could think about liability insurance and a bicycle tax. Because the cycle paths and the exemplary signs for cycle routes in the country (white signs with green letters) also cost money.

  10. Wrong approach
    The automobile club has the wrong approach here. Instead of considering mobility as a whole, i.e. all means of transport, he throws himself homophobic-like at the drivers, the poor, oppressed, exploited drivers! Plenty more cycle paths please, no matter which ones in the cities! Everywhere 30 km/h and done. Finally think again! The focus is on people and their survival. With all due respect, the car driver’s turn is far behind. Take care of things that are essential for survival. This does not belong that man drives a tank in the city.

  11. I see it that way too
    Best of all, no Munich resident is allowed to own a car and non-Munich residents are not allowed to drive in Munich anyway. And then it really messes.

  12. beautiful country life !
    ….I’m glad I don’t have to go to a big city. Absolute madhouse, Stuttgart is not much better. Just stay away, no stress, no fees and no smart guys on the bike. Townsfolk: Why do you vote for such parties ????? PS: Somehow totally unfair that those who don’t have to pay anything make such demands…however, is appropriate for today !

  13. Consistently ignore
    the only thing that helps is to consistently ignore these areas, not to buy anything there and to switch to areas where drivers are still welcome and to spend their money there. I also try to avoid business in online trading shops with branches in such car-seen areas. We motorists must finally act aggressively and show that we are also a (market) power and that we are not always bashfully hiding from any eco-friendly people!

  14. Exactly my sense of humour,
    Car-hostile inner cities and Corona have made sure that I order online. Dear city dwellers and inner city shops, if you want motorists as customers, don’t throw them out of the city. Everyone who complains about online trading because no one comes into the shops anymore is people who bite the hand that feeds them.

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