Cyclists flood Dresden's main street - business owner desperate!

Cyclists flood Dresden's main street - business owner desperate!

In Dresden, the main street, which serves as the central connection between the new town and the old town, is used by hundreds of cyclists every day. However, there is a bitter aftertaste: the street is signposted as a sidewalk, and use by cyclists is only permitted on the median strip. This leads to more and more pedestrians and cyclists coming into conflict. The owner of the “Dresdner Tee und Kaffeezeit” shop, Sandra Kandalofsky, complains that this situation is massively affecting her business operations.

Kandalofsky, who also has shops on Louisenstrasse and Kügelgenhaus, says that the number of her customers on the main street has fallen significantly, while shops in less frequented locations are attracting a larger number of customers. Her husband Steffen adds that the unbridled density of cyclists is displacing walkers and significantly reducing the visibility of their business.

Increased traffic violations

What is particularly noticeable is a dramatic increase in traffic violations by cyclists since the fatal collapse of the Carola Bridge. While only two violations were registered six months before the accident, the number shot up to six afterward. These violations primarily concern driving at red lights and the illegal use of cell phones. The city administration therefore urges you to be particularly careful in this area, because the main street is designated as a pedestrian boulevard, which further complicates the situation.

On June 14, 2023, the city already recorded 3,900 cyclists on the main street between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. The excessive bicycle traffic is seen as a direct result of the bridge restriction. Last year there were also five traffic accidents involving cyclists on the main road, and two have occurred so far this year.

Approval problems and suggested solutions

The Kandalofskys have already tried to draw attention to their business by putting up a sign. But the bureaucratic effort was huge, as approval from the public order office took over two months to arrive. Ultimately, they were even fined for putting up a display without permission. The security service also prohibited a market van in front of her shop, which resulted in further financial losses.

The city is working on a solution to the problem. An internal working group meets every two weeks and deals with the traffic situation on the main road. However, technical monitoring of the maximum permitted speed for cyclists, set at 10km/h, was deemed technically impossible and proposals for a cycle lane were rejected as unsafe.

The Kandalofskys want to hold on to their business despite all odds, while the city plans to review signage on Main Street and work on infrastructure and traffic adjustments. The challenges on Dresden's main street show how closely pedestrians, cyclists and business owners are connected and how important a balanced solution is for everyone involved.

For further information on current developments and statistics relating to cycling in Dresden, see Sächsische.de, [TAG24]. [Berlin.de].