The transport sector has only made a very small contribution to climate protection in recent decades.
With the creation of a consultant position funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2017 - 2019, the Lord Mayor has made it clear how important "emission-free mobility" is for the city of Aachen.
An application as a model city in the NRW competition "emission-free city center" (municipal climate protection) is currently being prepared.
As in previous years, the limit value for nitrogen oxide was not met in 2016; the Environment Department assumes that the limit value cannot be met until 2025 without significant intervention.
The Clean Air Plan 2015 for the city of Aachen already includes a mandate for the administration to submit a proposal for a bicycle priority network as part of the traffic development planning as measure MR3. This states in detail:
"The expansion of the cycle path network is a central long-term task of transport planning in Aachen. The implementation goal is to create at least 8 km of new cycling facilities per year. By 2020, the expansion of the cycle path network will focus on the following measures:
- Implementation of the outstanding measures from the "2009 Cycling Action Plan" in the years 2014 - 2017.
- Update of the "2009 Cycling Action Plan" in 2015; successive implementation from 2017ff.
- Planning of the regional cycle path connections Aachen-Herzogenrath/Heerlen and Aachen-Jülich as far as possible away from main roads (fast cycle paths). The cycle highways are intended to connect the regional center of Aachen with the surrounding municipalities/cities on direct and comfortable cycle paths without system-related waiting times. The attractive offer will create a real alternative to partially congested roads for motor vehicle traffic; commuters in particular will be motivated to switch from cars to bicycles. Completion of the Aachen-Herzogenrath/Heerlen high-speed cycle path is currently planned for 2018/2019. The Aachen-Jülich railroad cycle path is expected to be completed in 2016.
- Submission of a proposal for a "cycle priority route network" as part of the transport development plan by 2016. The network should meet the needs of commuters for a fast connection between the outer districts and the city center and meet the requirements of pedelec and e-bike riders at speeds of up to 30 km/h. Cycle priority routes are characterized by a particularly good quality of the road surface and few delays due to a "priority" over crossing traffic that is as consistent as possible. This is to be achieved primarily through routes in 30 km/h zones with right of way for cyclists (cycle lanes), wide cycle paths or cycle lanes on main roads and traffic lights designed for cyclists. The existing Vennbahn route and the above-mentioned planned regional cycle connections (fast cycle routes) form the connecting points."
The administration has entered the federal competition "Climate Protection in Cycling" in order to receive funding for the implementation of an initial route (Aachen 1 priority cycle route ("RVR AC1")). A funding rate of 70% has been promised. Approval of the "RVR AC1" project is imminent. The funding application includes the design of a priority cycle network, in which the Aachen 1 priority cycle route is included as a non-funded component.
The Mobility Committee was informed about the RVR AC1 funding project in March, June and November 2016. The proposal was also discussed in the district councils of Mitte, Laurensberg and Eilendorf. So far, the project has been approved by a large majority. Cycling in Aachen should be promoted even more than in the past through offers that also motivate non-cyclists to make greater use of bicycles for everyday journeys.
The main results of the preliminary discussions were that the routes should be marked as consistently as possible. Prioritizing bicycle traffic was considered to be difficult, especially when passing through the pedestrian zones within the Grabenring. The Grabenring should therefore take on the function of a "bicycle distribution ring" in future. It should be designed in such a way that an increase in cycle traffic takes place on the Grabenring and not within the Grabenring.
On 7 September 2016, Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) submitted a citizens' application for priority cycle routes to Haaren, Brand, Vaals and Campus Melaten as well as supplementary inner-city routes, which was discussed and approved by the citizens' forum of the city of Aachen on 25 October 2016 and referred to the Mobility Committee for substantive consultation.
In December 2016, the bicycle-friendly Brand project workshop submitted a proposal for a priority cycle route to Brand. This was discussed by the Brand district council on February 1, 2017 .
In March 2016, the ADFC Aachen submitted a citizens' petition focusing on the situation for cyclists on and within the Grabenring.
In December 2016, the "Bicycle-friendly Brand" project workshop submitted a citizens' application with proposals for a route and structural adjustments for a priority cycle route to Brand. This was discussed by the Brand district council on February 1, 2017 .
Furthermore, in March 2017, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrradclub (ADFC) submitted a citizens' petition , which deals in particular with what should be changed on and within the Grabenring so that the Grabenring can take on the function of a bicycle distribution ring. This is due to be discussed at the Citizens' Forum on May 9, 2017.