In Cologne, New Year’s Eve is a strong security concept
What are the rules for New Year’s Eve in Cologne? On New Year’s Eve, some streets and bridges are closed in Cologne, firecrackers and sparklers are forbidden.
Cologne – Finally toast with champagne again, ignite fireworks and pamper your loved ones at midnight. One or the other Cologne resident is already looking forward to this. After all, it’s the first New Year’s Eve without any corona rules or lockdown. But in Cologne there is a strong security concept.
Strict security concept for New Year’s Eve: That applies to December 31 in Cologne
► Fireworks-free zone: In parts of Cologne city center Firecrackers, rockets or other fireworks may not be taken along – this includes sparklers.
► Road closures: There are road and bridge closures throughout the city. There is also a driving ban for trucks over 7.5 tons.
► Check: The city monitors compliance with the rules. This can lead to waiting times.
Fireworks are banned on New Year’s Eve 2022 in downtown Cologne
For one thing, it’s in Fireworks are prohibited in parts of Cologne city center – even sparklers are taboo there. On the other hand, there are also closures and controls. They are “part of the security concept that the city of Cologne has developed with the federal police, the state police, the water police, the Cologne transport company (KVB), the Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Cologne waste management company (AWB) for the turn of the year 2022/23.” The city announced this in mid-December.
From 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve the area around applies Cologne cathedral as a fireworks-free zone. Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the fireworks-free area is extended to Komödienstraße/Marzellenstraße, Andreaskloster, Burgmauer and the corner of Trankgasse/Kardinal-Höffner-Platz.
In addition, the burning of pyrotechnic objects in the immediate vicinity of churches, hospitals, children’s and old people’s homes as well as particularly fire-sensitive buildings or facilities is prohibited throughout the city. “Violations are subject to a fine of up to 50,000 euros,” the city said.
Roads and bridges will be closed on New Year’s Eve 2022 in Cologne
The city monitors compliance with the security concept. This can lead to waiting signs at the individual checkpoints, it is said. In addition, road closures apply – and some bridges are also closed. These include:
- The area around Cologne Cathedral (closures from 6:30 p.m.)
- The Deutzer Bridge (closed to motorists from 9 p.m.)
- Hohenzollern Bridge (closed to pedestrians and cyclists in both directions from 6 p.m.)
- Hohenzollernring (if required)
- Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer (if required)
- Mülheim Bridge (if required)
- Rheinboulevard (stairs closed from 3 p.m.)
- Severinsbrücke (footpath and cycle path on the southern side (out of town) closed from 10 p.m., roadway (inwards) closed from 10 p.m., further closures if necessary)
- South bridge (if required)
- Zoobrücke (closed to cyclists and pedestrians from 10 p.m., lanes remain open in both directions)
- Zülpicher Straße (if required)
- Parts of Barbarossaplatz (if required)
- Roonstraße (if required)
- Hohenstaufenring (if required)
- Dasselstraße (if required)
In addition, trucks over 7.5 tons are banned from driving in the entire city center of Cologne. The ban applies from Saturday, December 31, 2022, 8 p.m. to Sunday, January 1, 2023, 4 a.m. There are only exceptions if an application has been submitted in advance.
Restricted zones for KVB bikes and e-scooters and New Year’s Eve in Cologne
In addition to the fireworks ban zones, the city of Cologne has introduced further accident prevention measures for December 31st. For example, restricted zones will also be set up in the city center for KVB bikes and all e-scooter providers. If you park your KVB bike in a restricted area anyway, you have to pay a fine of 20 euros. In the following, e-scooters, e-mopeds and rental bicycles may not be rented or parked on New Year’s Eve until New Year’s morning:
- In the old town of Cologne: from Central Station via the Cologne Cathedral to the large Cologne museums
- In Cologne Deutz: around the Rhineland Regional Council (LVR) and the Rheinboulevard
- Deutz Bridge
- Severin Bridge
In addition to the restricted zones on New Year’s Eve, permanent restricted zones in the old town were also defined for the KVB bikes in order to avoid accidents in particularly narrow areas with a high volume of pedestrians. These restricted zones have now been removed from the flex zone of the KVB bike offer. As an alternative, three KVB bike stations have been set up in the vicinity of the main train station, for example on Breslauer Platz, for the rental and return of rental bikes. These are to be recognized by the corresponding signs.
What do residents of downtown Cologne have to consider on New Year’s Eve?
- “In the event that the old town between the Rhine and the Heumarkt/Alter Markt/Auf dem Brandt line is closed, residents should carry their ID with them,” the city advises.
- Residents living in the vicinity of the cathedral also receive ribbons.
KVB increases operations on New Year’s Eve
Since many people will be on the streets, especially at night, on New Year’s Eve, the KVB will improve its operations on this night. The trams will operate on December 31 according to the Saturday timetable. The 15-minute interval in the evening is extended until around 2:15 a.m. at night, only then does continuous night traffic apply every 30 minutes until Sunday morning. An overview of the increased measures on New Year’s Eve:
- die KVB line 1 will be in the period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the section between the stops “Neumarkt” and “Junkersdorf” reinforced by additional trips.
- All trips of KVB line 3 will be extended from 6 p.m. beyond the “Buchheim Herler Straße” stop to the “Thielenbruch” stop.
- die KVB line 12 will run in night traffic from 2:15 a.m. every 30 minutes to the “Merkenich” stop. the last section of the line is not regularly served in night traffic.
- die KVB line 15 – between the stops “Ubierring” and “Longerich” – as well as the KVB line 9 – between the stops “Ostheim” and “Universität” – are reinforced by additional journeys during the night traffic period from 2:15 a.m. to 6 a.m.
- On the KVB line 18 All short trips that actually end at the “Klettenberg” stop will be extended to the “Schwadorf” stop.
According to police orders, the Deutzer Bridge should be closed during the fireworks to ensure safe road traffic. In this case, the KVB line 1, KVB line 7 and KVB line 9 will not be able to cross the bridge for a certain period of time. Coming from the west, you then drive for a relatively short time only to the stops “Neumarkt” or “hay market“ and coming from the east only to the stops “Deutz/Messe train station‘ or ‘Deutz Freedom’. On New Year’s Day, the regular Sunday timetable will apply.
Cologne relies on a security concept on New Year’s Eve: help centers throughout the city
The city has also set up mobile help centers for medical emergencies. Locations include the Frankenwerft in the Rheingarten/Weltjugendtagsweg area, the Fischmarkt in the Rheingarten/Fischmarkt area, the Leystapel under the Deutzer Bridge (on the left bank of the Rhine) and the Deutzer Bridge in the area of the bridge ramp on the left bank of the Rhine at the Markmannsgasse exit.
The city points out that Edelgard consultants are out and about on New Year’s Eve. Girls and women who have been sexually molested, coerced, threatened or raped can find advice and help there. Counselors can be reached from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on 0221/221-27777. (jw with ots) Fair and independent informed, what happened in Cologne & NRW – here our free one 24RHEIN newsletter subscribe to.