The wheel distribution ring on the Grabenring

The entire inner city mobility in Aachen is undergoing a process of change. More space is to be created - embedded in the "inner city tomorrow" - for environmentally friendly means of transportation, for urban greenery and the quality of stay. In short, the quality of life is to be improved. A comprehensive process is currently underway to achieve this(link).

A central element of this are priority cycle routes, which should invite many people to cycle safely and comfortably in Aachen. On 12.09.2019, the mobility committee decided to implement the Aachen priority cycle network. The individual routes running from the outer districts into the city center are to be connected via a cycle distribution ring. This function is to be assumed by the Grabenring around the inner city center.

The aim behind this is to keep the area within the Grabenring free of through bicycle traffic and only used by destination traffic that can be organized in a way that is compatible with pedestrian traffic. For the concept to work, restrictive measures (such as bans on through traffic at Elisenbrunnen and Templergraben) must be taken to reduce car traffic on the Grabenring.

In a preliminary sub-study , the administration has shown in great detail the prerequisites and potential for bicycle-friendly redesign on the individual sections of the Grabenring with scenarios for interrupting the motor vehicle network on the Grabenring. The commission to concretize the concept was decided on 01.07.2021.

The planning of the individual sections involves extensive coordination and participation processes in some cases. In order to speed these up, the awarding of contracts to external parties is in preparation. Coordination is currently underway to determine when it will be possible to implement which measures for cycling in the city center.

Individual measures that can be implemented more quickly will be brought forward as part of current or upcoming roadworks-related road surface repairs. For example, the redesign of the Driescher Gässchen / eastern Templergraben as part of an asphalt renovation measure. Furthermore, further implementation is to be accelerated with traffic trials where possible.

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