In 1980 three German Federal Ministries agreed to carry out a joint research and demonstration programme on large scale environmental traffic management strategies. Six towns were chosen to participate and the results of the project in Buxtehude are presented here. Aims included making public, pedestrian and bicycle transport safer, quicker and more comfortable, restricting through traffic to main thorough fares and reducing speeds to 50 km/h on main roads and 30 km/h elsewhere. Using existing and planned land use, origins and destinations for pedestrian and bicycle traffic were drawn up. This was superimposed on existing streets and paths and traffic loads assessed. Journeys to work by bike and journey speeds were found to be low and many deficiencies seen in the existing cycleway system. A concept was proposed with large-scale introduction of 30 km/h limits on all subsidiary roads, a package of cycling and pedestrian measures, a 'right before left' priority rule and road narrowings and raised paving in places. Individual measures for improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists are discussed including the creation of a route network, 'bicycle streets,' cycle paths in shopping streets, the protection of cyclists and pedestrians in collector roads and at entrances to 30 km/h zones, improvements at cross roads, publicity and public relations. So far cycling has increased considerably and accident risk reduced. Particularly popular was the opening up of the pedestrian precinct to cyclists.
Abstract