01/2024: Pedestrian traffic check

The pedestrian traffic check started in Aachen on 21.04.2022.

Walking is the most environmentally friendly form of transportation in the world. In Aachen, around 30% of journeys are already made on foot. This is a pleasing proportion, which will be given even more attention with the pedestrian traffic check. Aachen was selected as a participant in the state-wide competition for a professional "Pedestrian Traffic Check" by the Ministry of Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the NRW Future Mobility Network. 32 municipalities applied throughout the state and 12 were awarded the contract. The winning municipalities did not incur any costs - the check was funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The pedestrian traffic check is a tool offered by Zukunftsnetz Mobilität NRW, the state-wide support network for the promotion of sustainable mobility. Aachen has been a member since 2016.

The method comprises several components. On-site visits are the core element - the participants share their perspectives on problems, discuss with each other and develop solutions.

The tried-and-tested method contains several components. Inspections were followed by an analysis of strengths and weaknesses and the creation of an action plan with priorities, which were developed jointly by citizens and experts.

The accompanying planning office moderated the events, bundled the topics and summarized the results. At the end, an evaluation and recommendations for action were presented.

The exchange within the administration as well as between the administration, politicians and interested citizens has further strengthened the culture of participation in Aachen. The aim is to integrate the pedestrian traffic check technology into the planning process in a standardized way.

The Zunftsnetz Mobilität NRW also advises local authorities on request on generating possible funding for the implementation of measures.

The pedestrian traffic check in Aachen passed through the following milestones:

• 21.04.2022: Handover of the acceptance certificate by Transport Minister Ina Brandes to Mayor Hilde Scheidt and Isabel Strehle, Head of the Department of Urban Development, Planning and Mobility Infrastructure, in the presence of Ulla Thönnissen, Member of the State Parliament, and Hans-Peter Geulen, Managing Director of the Aachen Transport Association, in his capacity as representative of the NRW Future Mobility Network.
• 20.05.2022 Kick-off event (online): The internal administrative working group was constituted at the meeting. Twelve colleagues from 11 different teams/departments of the city administration took part, giving the check a broad, interdisciplinary foundation from the outset.
• 16.08.2022: Workshop. Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., around 55 citizens gathered in the SuperC of RWTH Aachen University under the guidance of the planning office in charge and together with representatives of the administration, politics and associations to find out about the process of a pedestrian traffic check. This was followed by a briefing on two routes along the premium footpath network, which were to be examined in more detail as part of two inspections.
• 13.09.2022: Inspection 1 (West). Around 35 interested citizens joined representatives from associations, politics and administration for the first walk. The route led along a section of the future Premium Footpath 4 from Gartenstraße to the west of Aachen.
• 16.09.2022: Studio interview as part of the WDR local time program
• 20.09.2022: Inspection 2 - East. Around 40 interested citizens joined representatives from associations, politics and administration for the second walk. The route led along a section of the future Premium Footpath 8 from Stiftstraße to the east of Aachen.
• 18.10.2022: Presentation of the results in lecture hall 10 of the C.A.R.L. lecture hall center at RWTH Aachen University. Around 35 interested parties from the public, associations, politics and the media accepted the invitation. The planning society gave a presentation on the points and topics that the participants in the inspections had formulated verbally and in writing. These submissions were recorded in a list and commented on with initial suggestions for improvement. They were also categorized into measures that could be implemented in the short/medium and long term in the opinion of the office.
• 25.10.2022 Interview by Bernd Büttgens, editor of the Aachener Zeitung/Aachener Nachrichten, with project manager Claudia Nowak at selected points of the check.
• 26.10.2022 Interview by Bernd Büttgens on the occasion of the pedestrian traffic check City Planning Councillor Frauke Burgdorff in the editorial offices of Medienhaus Aachen.
• 24.08.2023: Presentation and positive resolution of the results by the Mobility Committee of the City of Aachen and on 09.08.2023 by the Aachen-Mitte district council. The corresponding template with report (Annex 1) and list (Annex 2) is available in the Council information system for the MOA 24.08.2023 under item 11.
• 01.11.2023: The pedestrian traffic position is filled. Tim Klinder is the contact person for the interests of pedestrians in Aachen.
• 16.01.2024: Representatives of the Future Mobility Network NRW and specialist planners from the various departments of Department 68 (formerly 61) meet for a debriefing. They work together on a strategy to implement the results of the walking check in concrete terms and also to ensure that they are taken into account in the administration's business in the long term. A variety of challenges emerge. What all participants have in common is the will to overcome the challenges together and to further promote walking in Aachen as a natural and equal form of mobility.