Hardly any green arrows for cyclists in Brandenburg
In most of the larger municipalities in Brandenburg, green arrows specifically for cyclists are still a rarity. "So far, there are no such signs," said a spokesperson for Cottbus city council when asked. According to the city administration, there is also no green arrow for cyclists in Frankfurt (Oder). There are currently no known efforts to install such signs in the "near future", the spokesperson for the local administration explained.
The situation is different in the state capital of Potsdam: "So far, we have installed ten green arrows for turning cyclists, further intersections are currently being tested and will be implemented step by step if the test results are positive," said the city spokesperson. Dangerous situations for cyclists in cities often arise when motor vehicles turn right. Here, the "green arrow regulation can only be useful for cyclists".
In Oranienburg, Neuruppin and Eberswalde, there is currently no green arrow for cyclists. "However, a test procedure to install green arrows at three junctions in the city center has been underway since the summer," said a spokeswoman for the city of Oranienburg. The town is in favor of this "in principle". In Neuruppin, "such signs are not currently planned either", a city spokesperson said. In Eberswalde, too, "a need has not yet been articulated".
The special green arrow at traffic lights was introduced in April 2020. The local lower road traffic authorities of the districts are responsible for planning and implementation. They check in advance whether the necessary requirements are met and whether the traffic situation permits such a green arrow. According to the Brandenburg Ministry of Transport in the summer, the authorities had "already extensively ordered green arrows for bicycle traffic".
The white sign with a green arrow on a black background and a bicycle underneath is usually placed to the right of a traffic light. The signs allow cyclists to turn right at the relevant junctions even if the traffic lights are red. However, the prerequisite is that the current traffic situation allows this - i.e. that other road users are not obstructed or endangered. According to the Ministry, you must also stop at the stop line first.
Despite the widespread absence of green arrows for cyclists in Brandenburg, some cities, like Potsdam, have startedinstalling them. However, in Oranienburg, there's currently a test procedure underway to install green arrows at three city center junctions.
Even with the installation of green arrows for cyclists in some areas, dangerous situations can still arise during right turns, hence the importance and utility of these green arrow regulations for cyclists.
Source: www.dpa.com
