For the first time since 2016, spending on cycle paths in Brandenburg fell (symbol image) Photo: picture alliance/dpa
By Michael Sauerbier
Brandenburg’s planned turnaround in traffic is faltering. Many new bike lanes that the government promised will not be built. The Greens blame the CDU transport minister.
The Greens wrested 20 million euros a year from the SPD and CDU in 2019 for the construction of cycle paths. That’s what the coalition agreement says.
But now Minister of Transport Guido Beermann (56, CDU) has to admit: last year only 11.7 million euros were installed, this year it will only be seven million.
Transport Minister Guido Beermann (CDU) Photo: picture-alliance/dpa
No sign of a green turnaround in traffic! For the first time since 2016, spending on cycle paths is actually falling. Worse still: Because the planned money was not called, it is to be reduced for the next two years. And that with rising construction prices.
Minister Beermann justified the bankruptcy with “capacity bottlenecks”.
Only 11 of 16 new positions for cycle path planning could be filled at the state road construction agency. Many employees are sick. There is also a lack of staff at partner companies. On top of that, building permit procedures led to delays.
Traffic expert Clemens Rostock (Greens) Photo: picture alliance / Ralf Hirschberger
Green traffic expert Clemens Rostock (38) disappointed: “One has to realize that cycling is not a priority in the Ministry of Transport.”