ASSEN shifts a big step back in her ambition to ban cars, and to have it also taken back on a lot of gas. For example, the first plan, to lower the speed on the ring road from 70 to 50 kilometers, is off the track again.
The future plan until 2040 for traffic in the city, which alderman Martin Rasker (VVD) launched in the city council last fall, was too much like ‘bullying’ car, was the criticism. And that did not take a number of council fractions.
That is why the alderman now takes back some gas and leaves the speed on the ring road, the Europaweg, alone. The aim of reducing the high Asser car use has also been removed from the mobility plan. What remains standing is especially the cyclist and pedestrian on one.
The intention is that the streets, flat around the city center, are used less as continuous driving routes. This ring around the city center must be more car -free, so that there is more space and safety for cyclists and walkers. Cars with the city center as the city center will be directed as soon as possible from that center ring.
Parking street in the city center must go a little less. For cars there is still room in the parking garages, counts have shown. Because also on busy Saturdays, 450 places are still unoccupied. So much of all that parked look in the street scene can go there. On the parking spaces to be lifted, green and benches could come.
Parties such as VVD, Stadspartij Plop, Assen Central and List De Rijke found that motorists were seen too much as pariah in the first version of the vision of the future. “If we want to be easily accessible as a provincial capital, then you don’t have to set up all kinds of thresholds,” was the criticism.
On the routes to residential areas and the center ring, the traffic alarm owner wanted to reduce the speed to 30 kilometers per hour, instead of the current 50. But many council parties continue to have great doubts whether such a reduction works, because there is hardly any maintenance and the weigh also are great for 50.
On through traffic roads such as Overcingellaan and Industrieweg, the speed remains at 50 kilometers anyway, because the roads have to ensure a good flow.
In order to get Assenaren mainly by bike and out of the car, cyclists get a large job. In the coming years, the emphasis is on as many safe cycling routes to the city center, the neighborhood centers, facilities such as the Wilhelmina Hospital, but also on business parks. For example, the Groningen state should become a bicycle street, where cars are guests and cyclists are in charge.
Furthermore, the aim is as little delays as possible for cyclists at crossing places, including a green Zône at traffic lights. Cyclists in Assen are given priority on roundabouts. Furthermore, serious work is made of more and safe bicycle parking facilities.
The city council will decide in two weeks on the adjusted mobility plan.