Cycling advancement under scrutiny: Unutilized federal funds, project postponements, and perceived lack of vision criticized by Saar-Green
In Saarland, a long-standing issue has arisen concerning the expansion of bicycle paths, with delays in construction attributed to staff shortages and a lack of financial resources, according to the state road construction authority. This criticism, led by Hanko Zachow of the Saar-Greens, focuses on the perceived stagnation in the expansion of bicycle paths and the insufficient use of funds allocated for this purpose.
Zachow and the Saar-Greens hold Saarland's transport minister Petra Berg and her predecessor Anke Rehlinger responsible for the underutilization of federal funds for bicycle path expansion. They lament delays in the planning and implementation of approved bicycle path projects in Saarland, highlighting the discrepancy between the commitments to promote cycling and the actual actions taken by the responsible authorities.
The stagnation in Saarland's bicycle path expansion and the underutilization of federal funds primarily stem from administrative and structural issues rather than a lack of demand or funding availability. Saarland, along with other German states such as Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, has requested expanded federal funding programs aimed at municipalities, indicating the need for more support to effectively implement infrastructure projects including bicycle paths.
One key factor behind the slow utilization of federal funds is the absence of a dedicated state mobility authority in Saarland. Such an authority could centralize planning, funding applications, and implementation efforts, reducing bureaucratic delays and optimizing the use of available funds. The Saar-Greens maintain that the establishment of a state mobility agency could address these issues by offering focused expertise and streamlined governance to manage cycling infrastructure projects more effectively, thus increasing the pace of bicycle path expansion.
Zachow believes that a state authority for mobility would set new priorities from the outset. He points out delays in the planning and implementation of approved bicycle path projects in Saarland, and demands a comprehensive review of the administrative structures and a realignment that meets the current requirements in order to establish a state authority for mobility.
The political rhetoric of the ministers of transport in Saarland stands in stark contrast to the reality on the ground, according to the Saar-Greens. A long-planned final event for the update of the state bicycle route planning has not yet taken place, and the state road construction authority prioritizes the construction of roads over pursuing comprehensive mobility concepts.
Only 5.9 million euros of the available federal funding of 12 million euros for bicycle path expansion in Saarland have been used, further fueling Zachow's claims of insufficient use of federal funds for the expansion of bicycle paths in Saarland. The Saar-Greens maintain that implementation and political Sunday speeches in Saarland do not match, emphasizing the need for administrative reform to overcome the current stagnation in Saarland's bicycle path expansion.
- The Saar-Greens have accused Saarland's transport minister Petra Berg and her predecessor, Anke Rehlinger, of underutilizing federal funds for bicycle path expansion, citing delays in planning and implementation of approved projects.
- Another German state, Westphalia, along with Rhineland-Palatinate, has requested expanded federal funding programs to support municipal infrastructure projects like bicycle paths, indicating a need for more financial support.
- The Saar-Greens argue that the establishment of a state mobility authority in Saarland could optimize the use of funds for infrastructure projects such as bicycle paths, address bureaucratic delays, and increase the pace of expansion.
