KVB raises the alarm: Safety at Cologne stops in danger!

KVB raises the alarm: Safety at Cologne stops in danger!

Köln, Deutschland - The Cologne Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) face a huge challenge: more and more Cologne residents feel unsafe when driving on buses and trains. A combination of scarce financial means, high health levels and delivery difficulties among the vehicle manufacturers ensures a tense working atmosphere. In this context, social problems have also arisen that further affect the feeling of security of the passengers. As reported by the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, especially homeless and drug-dependent people use the subway stops, which ensures increasing threats.

A look at the Appellhofplatz stop reveals how serious the situation is. In the early morning hours, up to 45 homeless people can be found here who not only spend the night, but also often consume drugs and leave garbage. In the subway stations, the smell of urine and faeces has become commonplace, which is not only a practical challenge, but also concerned parents who fear the safety of their children on their way to school. Stefanie Haaks, the CEO of KVB, emphasizes that the aggressions against employees and passengers have already increased and the KVB has already taken measures to counter the situation.

safety and cleanliness offensive

The KVB has planned a comprehensive safety and cleanliness offensive to address the growing problem. For this initiative, drastic measures, such as closing stops during operational -free times, are under discussion. The pilot project is to be tested at Appellhofplatz. In addition, the KVB is considering shortening the cleaning intervals and using stronger cleaning agents. From the spring of 2024, a concept called "SOS" will also come into force, which provides intensification of the controls, whereby 1.5 million euros have already been approved for the implementation - but so far no funds have arrived.

In addition, the KVB plans to introduce a shuttlebus to the emergency sleeping center for the homeless people and even offer a heat room on a bus during the winter months. In order to make your stay in the stops more pleasant, the idea is to be tested to record music. Nevertheless, the financing remains a challenge. As the Rundschau Online, the KVB cannot cover the costs for additional safety measures and cleanliness from its own budget.

politics required

Politics is required to quickly provide additional means in this tense budget. The KVB, which promotes more than 250 million passengers a year and has an extensive line network of bus and light rail lines, has a responsibility towards Cologne. It is urgently needed that both the Stadtwerke Cologne, which is 90% owner of the KVB, and the city of Cologne, which is 10% involved, take care of security on the stops. In view of the ongoing developments, committed and creative solutions are required to improve the situation and to regain the feeling of security of the passengers.