Car-free zone in Cologne: new traffic routing on the Eigelstein prevails
Some people had to shake hard and maybe still do today. The Eigelstein was more or less freed from car traffic practically overnight – after the war had failed to come to an agreement on a solution for decades. An alliance of several parties in the inner city district council helped, which together trumped the established forces and pushed through the most far-reaching variant of the administration.
On the other hand, there is also the Eigelstein Citizens’ Association, which – together with many business people, above all Rewe Ridders – has repeatedly campaigned for traffic calming and greening of the historic street.
Every now and then someone drives through the Eigelstein
There are still a few wrong trips, so one or the other has not yet fully internalized the new traffic routing. But basically nothing is reminiscent of the crowded and narrow car alley, in which pedestrians and cyclists were literally pushed to the edge. Even if the Eigelstein Nun is a considerable bicycle street and not, as originally thought, became a “shared space zone” in which all road users can use the entire width of the street with equal rights.
“It was a bit difficult at the beginning, but now it’s going well. Overall, it has gotten much better, ”says Ruth Wennemar from the citizens’ association. The bollards, especially in the front part of the train station, reliably prevent parking on the hard shoulder, but also narrow the street scene, especially at the narrow point, in contrast to the area in front of the Torburg. “There is no other way,” says Wennemar.
And something else is changing right now. The egg stone actually becomes greener. The city has already set up the first four planting modules with young trees, and a further eleven are to follow. No small interim solutions, but rather large and massive-looking frames that should give the offspring enough space. At the moment, depending on the season, of course, they should be sheared to a certain extent, but should sprout vigorously in the spring and irrevocably consolidate the step towards a serious redesign.