Traffic calming: Feel good instead of traffic noise in Idstein!

Traffic calming: Feel good instead of traffic noise in Idstein!

What is happening in Idstein city center? In a current discussion about the planned traffic calming, the judge rejected the arguments of some critics and described them as bogus arguments. This measure could not only improve clarity, but also increase the quality of stay for citizens. Specialist institutes have carried out extensive research on this topic and found that places to hang out in front of shops and quiet areas are essential to promote well-being and social interactions in the city center, reports Wiesbaden courier.

But how do people react to these plans? Richter noted that young people in particular drive into the planned traffic-calmed zones without restrictions, while older people or people with restrictions tend to be left out. This raises the question of how barrier-free the city center will actually be and whether the plans take into account the needs of all residents.

Growing concerns and empirical data

Although the discussion about traffic calming measures is on the rise, opposing voices are increasingly forming. Critics fear that such a measure will not relieve traffic, but rather place additional strain on the surrounding streets. The Difu platform makes a clear message to local politicians: The fear of additional burdens on the neighboring road network is unfounded. The Difu Paper shows that almost all surveys confirm the phenomenon of “traffic evaporation”: the overall volume of traffic decreases when appropriate measures are implemented.

In addition, empirical findings from various German and international projects show that restrictive measures to reduce car traffic have positive effects. These results should urgently be taken into account in the technical discussion and in future planning. If municipalities are brave enough to follow such exemplary projects, as the Berlin Senate is doing with its urban development plan for transport until 2030, they may soon experience a decline in private motorized transport and an increase in environmental connectivity.

A look at Berlin

In Berlin, for example, the Senate passed the urban development plan for mobility and transport (StEP MoVe) on March 2, 2021 to counteract increasing vehicle traffic. The goal: The share of the environmental network, consisting of walking and cycling, buses and trains, should increase from 74% to 82% by 2030. These concepts must also provide guidance for Hessian cities in order to create livable inner cities and achieve climate goals. The vision of a zero emissions zone, into which only vehicles with clean engines will be allowed to enter in the future, could also further improve the quality of life, he said Berlin Senate.

In summary, it can be said: traffic calming could be good for Idstein's city center as long as all the needs of the population are taken into account. A broader dialogue between political decision-makers, citizens and experts is essential to jointly shape the future of the city and fully exploit the benefits of traffic calming.