Over to the bus stop? A problem at the corner of Späthstrasse and Privet Road Photo: Ralf Gunther
From Hildburg Bruns
This neighborhood throws itself into the wheel: the residents have bought standard T-shirts and founded an association. As early as 7 a.m., men and women move through Späthsfelde so that children can finally get to school safely.
They show members of parliament and district officials from Treptow-Köpenick the problem corners: Späthstraße, on which vehicles rush past in a tour. How do the little ones get to the bus stop on the other side?
Norbert Donnerwo (58th left) and his club are calling for more road safety for Privet Drive Photo: Ralf Gunther
Some pensioners therefore no longer take the 170 bus. “There should be a zebra crossing here,” demands Norbert Doberow (58), head of the citizens’ initiative. The catch: One side of the street has no sidewalk, only a dirt track. Matthias Lüsenkamp from the Roads Office: “You can’t send people into no man’s land.” But he refers to the Senate, which is responsible for main roads.
At this point, pensioner Michael Nießen (70) was struck by a car side mirror – the car simply sped over the sidewalk Photo: Ralf Gunther
Next problem: Privet Drive. A narrow street with a 1.20 m sidewalk on one side only. Actually a 30 km/h zone, hardly anyone sticks to it.
In addition, the navigation system recommends the route (!) as a freeway alternative route, whereby drivers then like to switch to the narrow sidewalk in the event of oncoming traffic and endanger pedestrians. And: at peak times, pipits rarely come out of their gardens backwards.
Melanie Matzke (38) worries about her children on the narrow sidewalk on Privet Road Photo: Ralf Gunther
What to do? SPD traffic expert Tino Schopf (48): “You could definitely apply large 30 km/h markings on the asphalt and set up a dialogue display that shows the speeds to the drivers. Something has to happen at the corner of Späthstraße: either a zebra crossing or a traffic light – it doesn’t have to be continuous operation.”
But the residents can also do something themselves: cut back the greenery that is rampant in their gardens. Even then there would be more space on the narrow sidewalk.