Cars, traffic jams and the turn of traffic: Vechta and Lohne focus!

Cars, traffic jams and the turn of traffic: Vechta and Lohne focus!

Vechta, Deutschland - The streets of Lohne and Vechta sources to vehicles from different brands-from Ferraris to AMG-Mercedes to classic cars. But while numerous vehicles are experiencing the big appearance on Große Strasse in Vechta, the mobility of many drivers is on the brink. "Lots of car, little mobile", as one of the last articles on om-online.de . Author Alfons Batke, a 68-year-old freelance retiree and long-time journalist, illuminates the current traffic situation, which is additionally loaded by a large construction site at the train station in Lohne.

The construction site not only causes traffic jams, but also resentment among the commuters who are waiting for the uncertain arrival of the trains of the Northwest Railway. One could almost say that the streets are a symbol for the current traffic policy: "There is something!", You could say in a relaxed tone if you look at the lack of planning in the past.

The escape of the GDR citizens and their cars

The past of the German division also harbors interesting turns, such as the historical “Operation Ignition coil”, which focused on the cars of refugee GDR citizens. On September 30, 1989, Hans-Dietrich Genscher announced on the balcony of the Prague message that GDR citizens were allowed to leave, and the starting signal for mass exhaustion was given. Many refugees not only left their homes, but also their vehicles - including numerous Wartburgs, who were now parked in meadows and fields, while people opened in the West. The Stasi, active as part of this operation, confiscated many of these cars.

Rolf Mahlke, one of the refugees who came to the west with his red Wartburg via the Prague embassy, ​​researched the return of these vehicles and published an essay in the classic car magazine "79oktan". He describes how the Stasi administered the possessions of Republic refugees, including their cars, through a ministerial order. More than 4,000 GDR citizens celebrated their escape in the bulging message in Prague, while their cars remained without their owners.

from Freienbrink back home

The return of these vehicles took place to Freienbrink near Berlin, where the Stasi operated a warehouse. Up to 2,500 Eastern cars were temporarily stored here, and the legal basis for the returns was §56 of the Criminal Code, which allowed confiscation in crimes. From March 1990, the former owners were contacted to pick up their vehicles. Some took the chance, however, others waived - the memories of their own escape were often too painful.

Such historical reviews show how mobility has changed over the years and give an interesting insight into the current discussions about our traffic infrastructure: "How much car is too much?" You could ask yourself, supported by the experience of the past and the conflicts that have arisen between the states of the return of the automobiles.

When it comes to the traffic situation in Lohne, we have to ask ourselves today clearly: Do we really have the wheel of history so far under control that the streets are not becoming a traffic jam again? A good knack in traffic planning could be a step in the right direction.