Parliament and Council give nod to fresh traffic legislation.
The proposed law should allow for greater flexibility in managing traffic at both the country and municipal level. Communities may choose to prioritize public transit or alternative-fuel vehicles with their own lanes, broaden bike paths, establish pedestrian-only streets, or implement a 30 km/h speed limit near schools and daycares. Additionally, there should be more leniency in setting rules around resident parking.
This legislation was initially passed by the Bundesrat in October. However, it was later rejected due to the shift in focus from traffic safety to climate change, environmental protection, and health concerns.
The legislation was revisited in the conciliation committee, where it was emphasized that traffic safety took precedence over these other factors. On Friday, the Bundesrat press office stated, "Traffic safety must not only be considered but also not compromised."
The cycling organization ADFC praised the legislative changes, calling it "long overdue." President Caroline Lodemann noted, "It's high time the outdated Road Traffic Act was updated to accommodate the complex reality of modern traffic and create opportunities for eco-friendly road design."
The German City League also voiced their approval with a few caveats. Managing director Helmut Dedy stated, "We welcome the reform, but we need more liberty for local government to make traffic-related decisions. Cities are the experts when it comes to traffic."
Read also:
The revised Road Traffic Act, now approved by both the Bundestag and Bundesrat, provides municipalities with the ability to prioritize traffic management based on their specific needs. This could involve dedicating lanes for public transit, alternative-fuel vehicles, or expanding bicycle paths. The Federal Council, in acknowledging this, emphasized that traffic safety must not be compromised during these changes. The ADFC, a cycling organization, commended the update, deeming it long overdue to accommodate modern traffic and eco-friendly design.
