Spectrum: The Kidical Mass is a global movement that has been campaigning for child- and bicycle-friendly cities and communities in Germany since 2017. Next weekend, September 24th and 25th, the alliance is calling for nationwide bicycle demonstrations. The demand: more safety on the road!
To ensure that politicians finally implement the demand for more safety, tens of thousands of children, young people and adults with bicycles, balance bikes and scooters will take to the streets in more than 160 large cities and small towns next weekend. This time, however, it is not just about the on-site demonstration. In numerous places, political leaders received the signatures of a petition for child-friendly road traffic laws. According to the organizers, 81.000 people have already signed this petition. Numerous mayors, deputies and members of the transport committee of the Bundestag should be there for a handover.
Kidical Mass Alliance calls for road traffic laws to be revamped
The action alliance demands that road traffic law be completely turned inside out. Everyone should be able to move safely and independently on the streets by bicycle, scooter and on foot. This is true not only in the cities, but also in the country. Kidical Mass organizer Simone Kraus says: "We are adapting our children to an environment with more and more cars and putting them in safety vests instead of improving the infrastructure. A child-friendly transport system has numerous positive effects: It not only protects our children, but also the ever-growing group of older people. It helps people with restricted mobility, the climate and the health of all of us.”
Cities and municipalities should not wait until the new traffic law is in place
The demands are clearly defined: Transport Minister Wissing must immediately initiate the reform of road traffic law, as provided for in the coalition agreement. The new traffic law must allow 30 km/h as the standard speed in urban areas, as well as the uncomplicated construction of wide, structurally separate cycle paths. The safety of children and climate protection must be given priority over car traffic in the reformed road traffic law. The Kidical Mass Alliance also demands that cities and municipalities should not wait until the new traffic law is in place - the currently possible scope for action must already be fully exploited!