Missed opportunities: frustration over the lack of security in Dünnwald!

Missed opportunities: frustration over the lack of security in Dünnwald!

Gregor Randerath, a committed citizen from Dünnwald, brings pressing problems to the table with his “Safe through Dünnwald” initiative. For years he has criticized the city administration's inaction and called for urgent changes, particularly when it comes to the safety of school children in his district. Despite the 30 km/h limit on Zeisbuschweg, access to the nearby Rosenmaarschule remains critical for young pedestrians, as the street has to be crossed without a zebra crossing in sight. An existing zebra crossing is 100 meters away, and the path to it is often muddy and unpaved in winter.

How out ksta.de As can be seen, the Mülheim district council made a resolution to strengthen the sidewalk, but implementation is a long time coming. When asked by the city of Cologne, it was emphasized that the measure was anchored in the work program of the Office for Roads and Cycle Path Construction, but approval from the Lower Nature Conservation Authority was still pending. There is also a lack of a channel for surface water drainage, which further complicates the situation. The city does not see implementation taking place in five years at the earliest.

Dangerous route to school and demands from citizens

Parents and children are faced with the problem that the streets in front of schools are often confusing, especially at the start and end of school. Many bring their children to school by car and park illegally, which further exacerbates the situation. However, safety on the way to school is the highest priority for parents and children. It is important that children can go to school independently in order to gain traffic experience.

After a successful pilot phase, school streets were set up at various schools, including the Rosenmaarschule in Höhenhaus stadt-koeln.de reported. These road sections are closed to vehicle traffic during school hours, which increases safety in front of the schools. However, residents receive an exemption so that the residential area remains accessible.

Standstill and bureaucracy

Randerath expresses his frustration at the lingering bureaucratic hurdles that are delaying urgent action. The narrow sidewalk on Berliner Straße, which is only 60 cm wide, is a particular cause for additional concern. There is a technical possibility of widening it to two meters, but when this will be implemented remains uncertain. Traffic routing on the Dünnwalder Mauspfad, where cyclists are directed onto a busy road, is another item on the citizens' to-do list.

The Mülheim politicians have already commissioned the administration to put pictograms on the streets to increase safety. Measures have already been implemented on three pilot roads. Nevertheless, a real improvement in the situation in Dünnwald seems a long way off. Randerath makes it clear that there are many other open issues in his district that urgently need to be addressed in order to avoid disillusionment with politics and the associated challenges.