Conflict between Bicycles and Trucks
In the heart of Düsseldorf, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the construction of a protected bike lane. The city's traffic committee is currently assessing the development based on current traffic numbers, with the aim of finding a solution that benefits all parties involved.
The Mobility Turnaround Düsseldorf alliance has been vocal in their support for the bike lane, criticising the city's approach as prioritising industry and car traffic over cycling infrastructure. The opposition, on the other hand, has labelled the city's approach as "brazen."
The area in question is home to some logistics companies within the industrial area at the Reisholzer harbor, which have stated that just-in-time processes could not be handled on their own premises due to the demands of the bike lane. This has led to significant conflicts in daily operations for adjacent companies, and a short-term implementable variant that is safe and satisfactory for all parties has yet to be found.
Martin Volkenbrath, the SPD traffic expert, has criticised the behaviour of local companies demanding free public parking space for commercial interests. He has also expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure for truck drivers who often operate at night, resulting in them relieving themselves "behind the tree."
Volkenbrath has proposed an alternative solution: an autohof with all sanitary facilities and a direct exit towards Holthausen, about ten driving minutes away on the A46. This proposal aims to address the concerns of the logistics companies while still promoting the construction of the bike path.
Cornelia Zuschke, the deputy for mobility, has stated that they will continue to work on a solution based on new traffic data collection post-Corona. She has also emphasised the need for the construction of the bike path to continue, despite the ongoing controversy.
As of July 2025, no clear or current information on this controversy is available in the provided search results. Local Düsseldorf city news or transport authority announcements might provide more precise information that has not surfaced in broader search results so far.
On Friday, the citizens' initiative Hafenalarm is protesting in front of the town hall, demonstrating the ongoing public interest in the issue.
The bike lane controversy in Düsseldorf reflects the broader environmental and transport policy tensions in the city, with the city administration having already tested various possible compromises for the protected bike lane project. The ultimate resolution will likely have significant implications for the city's traffic development and the balance between industry and cycling infrastructure.
- The bike lane controversy in Düsseldorf, which reflects broader environmental and transport policy tensions, involves debates over the balance between industry and cycling infrastructure, with the Mobility Turnaround Düsseldorf alliance criticizing the city's prioritization of industry and car traffic over cycling infrastructure.
- In assessing the development of the protected bike lane, the city's traffic committee is considering the concerns of logistics companies within the home-and-garden area at the Reisholzer harbor, such as the impact on just-in-time processes and daily operations due to the demands of the proposed bike lane.
- Martin Volkenbrath, the SPD traffic expert, has proposed an alternative solution to the bike lane controversy, suggesting an autohof with all sanitary facilities and a direct exit towards Holthausen, as a means to address the concerns of the logistics companies while still promoting cycling infrastructure.
