Bicyclists in Solingen are granted permissible two-way travel on several one-way street paths, regardless of the usual directional flow
In the city of Solingen, known as the city of blades, a new traffic concept is being implemented on Sonnenstraße with the aim of improving bicycle traffic and optimising the use of public street space. The changes, which prioritise sustainable transport and road safety, include the establishment of a separated bike lane, the relocation of parking spaces, and the adjustment of parking regulations.
Initially, parking bans on Sonnenstraße were suspended as the construction work that necessitated them was completed earlier than expected, allowing parking to resume temporarily. However, these changes have since been suspended to maintain barrier-free access and the prescribed width of sidewalks.
The new bike lane on Sonnenstraße is designed to enhance safety and convenience for cyclists. In addition, parking spaces are being moved to the west side of the street only, which will change where cars can park along Sonnenstraße. The new layout will prioritise bicycle traffic and organise parking more systematically.
Other changes include adjustments to signage on one-way streets, where cyclists can now ride in the opposite direction. More generous regulations for residents' parking areas are planned to relieve the parking situation, as part of a traffic safety and parking space management improvement concept.
At the request of residents, the situation on Sonnenstraße has been reviewed again. Some constricting sign posts on Sonnenstraße need to be moved to accommodate the parked cars, and adjustments to signage have been made on one-way streets. Further clarification is needed at the three streets mentioned due to necessary structural adjustments.
Structural adjustments are also necessary at three other streets (Sauerbreystraße and Mittelstraße, Weststraße, Wiedenhofer Straße) in Solingen. At a few points, entry and exit pockets have been marked as safety areas on one-way streets that border priority roads.
The measure regarding cycling on one-way streets in Solingen has faced criticism from residents of Sonnenstraße. An example of a one-way street with marked safety areas is Baldungweg, which leads to Altehofer Straße. Sonnenstraße is an area where residents have priority parking.
Parked vehicles on Sonnenstraße cannot be moved onto the road due to obstruction of emergency, waste, and truck vehicles. Many places on Sonnenstraße are being parked on the sidewalk illegally. Parking bans have been signposted on Sonnenstraße, resulting in loss of parking spaces.
The change allowing one-way streets with a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour for bicycle traffic in the opposite direction is based on a change to nationwide road traffic regulations decided at the end of 2021. The administration in Solingen checked all relevant one-way streets and ordered the implementation of the change at the end of 2024, which has now been largely completed.
The new traffic concept is intended to promote sustainable transport, improve road safety, and optimise the use of public street space in Solingen.
- The adjustments to road traffic regulations in Solingen have extended to the automotive industry, with one-way streets now allowing bicycle traffic to move in the opposite direction at a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour.
- In the financial sector, these updates are expected to bring positive outcomes for public transit and transportation industries due to improved road safety and the promotion of sustainable transport, particularly in the region of Sonnenstraße.
- As part of the new traffic concept, the industry of transportation in Solingen is seeing changes such as the relocation of parking spaces and the adjustment of parking regulations on Sonnenstraße, with an aim to prioritize bicycle traffic and organize parking more systematically.
