Lüneburg demands: Barrier-free walking for everyone – the campaign inspires citizens!

Lüneburg demands: Barrier-free walking for everyone – the campaign inspires citizens!

Lüneburg's city center is increasingly becoming a venue for initiatives dedicated to accessibility and safety in pedestrian traffic. The event “I’m in the way!” took place on October 11, 2025. took place on Heiligengeiststrasse, organized by the AG Lüneburg on foot. This humorous campaign aimed to make citizens aware of the importance of barrier-free pedestrian traffic and drew attention to numerous obstacles that make everyday life difficult - from stands to tables to tripping blocks. Cécile Lecomte, vice world champion in wheelchair motocross, even reported on insurmountable paths that remain hidden to many of us.

The campaign received a positive response from passers-by, who also reported on their own experiences with barriers. The call from the AG Lüneburg on foot is aimed at the city, retailers and restaurants to take foot traffic into consideration and to leave enough space. In addition to the urgent requirement for smooth surfaces and wide sidewalks, the aim is also to review permits that impede foot traffic. Mayor Jule Grunau and other city representatives stopped by the event and supported the desire for fords at important crossings to improve safety for pedestrians.

A step in the right direction

Another important step towards accessibility is the “City Ramp 2025” project, which was launched on May 16, 2025. With a clear focus on access to shops, cafes and public places, mobile ramps will be installed to overcome steps at building entrances. Project manager Adrian Wachendorf from Nature-Guides gGmbH emphasizes that business owners can receive these ramps free of charge. The initiative is supported by funding, including from Aktion Mensch's inclusion program, supplemented by donations and contributions from business owners.

The vision behind these projects is clear: Lüneburg should become a city in which all people can participate self-determinedly and equally in public life. Even the first local business owners have already received ramps and are thus actively contributing to creating a barrier-free environment. The Nature-Guides website offers a comprehensive insight into the measures and support options.

Accessibility as a European goal

Accessibility is also very important at the European level. The EU is working to develop a creative transport system that enables all citizens to travel independently. Eleven projects were launched under the Horizon 2020 program that focus on improving connectivity, accessibility and inclusivity in transport. Mobility is not only a fundamental right, but also crucial for access to work, education and health, which is particularly important for the over 80 million people with long-term disabilities in Europe.

The commitment to barrier-free mobility extends to all regions of Europe. The aim is to create an infrastructure that is easy to use not only for people with disabilities, but also for children and women. Concepts such as child-friendly streets and citizen participation in traffic design are at the top of the agenda. For example, the Cities-4-People project is a people-focused approach to improving mobility in five EU cities, while TRIPS involves people with disabilities in planning future transport solutions.

The movements in Lüneburg's city center are part of a larger whole: a society that enables everyone to participate in public life requires not only local initiatives, but also a Europe-wide strategy that focuses on accessibility. Every positive example in Lüneburg is another building block towards an inclusive future.

Find out more about the event on the luene-blog.de, visit the page of lueneburgaktuell.de for information about the “City Ramp 2025” project and read about it CORDIS about the EU initiatives to promote barrier-free mobility.