On two wheels to Finland: Schwerin cycling for city twinning!

On two wheels to Finland: Schwerin cycling for city twinning!

On Saturday, July 5th, an adventurous bike tour from Schwerin to Vaasa in Finland brings a breath of fresh air to the local cycling community. Five cyclists and two cyclists from the ADFC Schwerin set off at 8.30 a.m. to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the city partnership with Vaasa. On the route there are about 1400 kilometers, which you will lead through the Swedish partner city of Växjö. The group is personally adopted by Mayor Rico Badenschier, who gives you greeting addresses. Roberto Koschmidder, board member and tour manager of the ADFC Schwerin, describes the participants as ambassador for the city and cycling.

The ADFC Schwerin organized the tour with a lot of commitment and invites everyone interested to say goodbye to the cyclists at Bertha-Klingberg-Platz or to accompany it for the first kilometers. The commitment of the city and the association underlines the importance of intercultural exchange and an active lifestyle that is more than ever required today. But not only the adventure counts; The safety of the cyclists is also of great importance.

traffic safety in focus

cycling and pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users, so prudent behavior in road traffic is essential. The ADFC Schwerin emphasizes the importance of a confident but defensive driving style. Foresight driving and adapting the driving style to the respective situation are crucial to avoid accidents. Hand signs should be given in particular when turning in order to clearly communicate the intention and to ensure visibility for other road users.

In Einbeck, regular bicycle demos of traffic safety for cyclists are given special attention. In one of these demonstrations, around two dozen participants visited problem areas in traffic management, especially on school paths. Together it is criticized that there are only narrow protective strips on the main route for students. These are planned with a minimum width of 1.85 meters, but only 1.15 meters wide, which endangers security considerably. It is evident that measures are necessary to improve the infrastructure in order to meet the needs of cyclists, especially parents with supporters or cargo bikes.

Together for a better cycling infrastructure

The discussion about safe bike paths is not only limited to Einbeck. The challenges for cyclists, especially in the case of inadequate design and width, are a hot topic in many cities in the region. Ghost driving on streets and bike paths is also recognized as a big problem that must be avoided. The traffic transition initiative in Einbeck is planning a traffic-turn festival on September 10 to advertise for the liveable city and bicycle streets and invite everyone interested.

It remains to be hoped that the upcoming trip to Finland will not only send a sign of sporting ambition, but also for an increased awareness of the security of cyclists in northern Germany. Together, cities and municipalities - like the ADFC Schwerin - can ensure better conditions and secure everyday life for all road users.