Transport Minister endorses Bissendorfer's plan for public cycling pathway.
You're Hittin' the Road: Cyclists in Bissendorf Demand Action, Herr Lies
Listen up, 'cause change is brewin' in Bissendorf! The traffic safety association, Bissendorf e.V., is on a mission to bridge the gap between Schledehausen and Wulften on the state road L87 with a citizen-led bike path. And they ain't playin' no games. Recently, they rolled into Hannover for a powwow with Minister Olaf Lies, the man responsible for all things Economics, Transport, Building, and Digitalization.
Dr. Wolfgang Simon, leader of the Bissendorf traffic safety crew, stepped up for the big leagues on Nov 7th, 2024. Accompanied by Mayor Guido Halfter and Christian Schwarz, head honcho of the municipality building department, they hit the road to Lower Saxony's State Parliament. Their goal? To present Olaf Lies with the application for recognizing their traffic safety project and the stacked pile of planning docs collected with the enthusiastic support of 400 fellow Bissendorf citizens.
With citizens eager for a safe bike path along the 2.7-kilometer connecting route, the municipal administration hopped on board and teamed up with the Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Construction and Traffic (NLStBV). Thanks to the intense passion of the people, the projecthas been in the works since the jump, sport!
Fast forward to now, and the ladiess and gentlemen of Bissendorf commissioned engineering firm IPW from Wallenhorst in June 2021 to conduct a feasibility study. They found that, while both cycle path variants will set 'em back approximately €1,100,000 (gross) plus acquisition costs, the west variant has a lighter touch on nature, built areas, and existing drainage facilities, making it the preferred choice.
But what's the point of a legit meeting if you ain't gettin' some words of encouragement? Simon and Halfter left Hannover with a glimmer of hope from Olaf Lies, who stated his support for the project, saying it could help speed things up a bit. Hooray!
Simon and Halfter gave thanks to everyone who made time for 'em despite the political drama unfolding in Berlin. And if the project receives a green light from Lower Saxony and the necessary dough, they want a sustainable approach to be in the mix.
Guido Pott and Thomas Uhlen of the SPD and CDU, respectively, lent a helping hand to facilitate the meeting and promised a response post- doc review. If Lower Saxony ultimately recognizes the citizen bike path status, expect a swift start to the final planning and land acquisition by the municipality of Bissendorf, and action along the L87! Cross your fingers that the Bissendorf-Belm-Wulften bike path gap gets closed, and the cyclists of the region can roll strong.
Stay tuned for updates, folks. Keep your finger on the pulse through the Bissendorf municipal office or their official website and local news sources.
Press Release/Municipality of Bissendorf
Insights:
- The citizen-led initiative for the Bissendorf bike path began in August 2024, collecting 400 signatures from supporters.
- The project started with a feasibility study, conducted by engineering firm IPW from Wallenhorst in June 2021, which presented two variants of the path, with the west variant preferred due to its lesser environmental impact.
- The involved parties, including the traffic safety association, municipal government, and relevant authorities, are working towards a final plan, approval process, and securing funding for the construction phase.
- In the event of project approval, construction would begin promptly, with mechanisms for community feedback in place post-construction.
- To get the latest and most accurate information, contact the Bissendorf municipal office or check their official website and local news sources.
The traffic safety association from Bissendorf, in conjunction with the Lower Saxony State Authority for Road Construction and Traffic, is actively seeking funding and support from the finance industry to make the West variant of the proposed citizen-led bike path a reality along the state road L87. This project, if approved, could potentially have a positive impact on the transportation sector, encouraging more cyclists and boosting sustainability in the region.
