The city of Zurich’s major traffic policy re-education program has even been criticized by cyclists. The Hardturmstraße with seven red lights at 1200 meters becomes a symbol of an asphalt madness
The announcement on the city’s website for the redesign of Hardturmstrasse in the industrial district probably sounded socially romantic: “Plant boxes, table-bench combinations, colored floor markings, games such as a boccia alley and table tennis tables invite people to linger on the southern sidewalk of Hardturmstrasse. A hundred new bicycle parking spaces complete the offer.»
But what has now become of the 1.2-kilometer section has caused both motorists and cyclists to shake their heads and shows the helpless activism of the civil engineering office in transport policy. In addition to traffic-calming measures, which quickly cause cyclists even more trouble than car drivers, no fewer than seven red light systems interrupt traffic. It goes without saying that these are programmed in such a way that no flow of traffic is possible. Also, bike tracks, car tracks and sidewalks mix in such a way that one is practically lost without a compass.
Even that daily scoreboard shows whether the new traffic management irritated. The newspaper praises the basic idea of ”improving the bad bike network”. However, the implementation is not well received: “If cars are now forced on the so-called core lanes to dodge the bike lane when crossing, the anger between road users is programmed. In the best of autumn. In the worst case, there are accidents.”
People who want to spare their nerves are advised not to visit Hardturmstrasse. But if you want to see with your own eyes that Seldwyla not only appears in the novels by Gottfried Keller – but is also located in the middle of the self-proclaimed city of Zurich, you should definitely use the time for a trip to the industrial district.