29 June is the big day: Nonnenstraße is set to become a cycle-friendly street

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To make cycling safer and more appealing, Nonnenstraße in Plagwitz will be converted into a cycle route during the week starting Monday 29 June, the Department of Urban Development and Construction has announced. Over a stretch of around one kilometre, between Erich-Zeigner-Allee and Karl-Heine-Straße, it will be signposted and marked accordingly. It will therefore be primarily reserved for cyclists in future, whilst additional signage will also allow motorised traffic to use the road. All properties will therefore remain accessible to residents and visitors by car.

The Mobility and Civil Engineering Office is using the Free State of Saxony’s guidelines for cycle streets for the first time, which is why Nonnenstraße will differ from the existing 18 cycle streets in Leipzig. To highlight the danger posed by so-called ‘dooring’ accidents and to prevent them, a safety lane will be marked on both sides alongside the parking areas along the entire length of the street. Cyclists should always ride to the left of this safety lane, according to the Planning Department.

Slightly different from other cycle routes

The cycle route will have priority over the junctions with Weißenfelser Straße, Ernst-Mey-Straße and Erdmannstraße. This right of way is visually indicated by marking the junctions in red.

On Industriestraße, however, the main road retains right of way. The cycle route pictogram also looks slightly different from those on Leipzig’s existing cycle routes: on Nonnenstraße, the relevant traffic sign from the Road Traffic Regulations is applied using cold plastic.

At the start of the cycle route, at the junction with Erich-Zeigner-Allee, the carriageway is narrowed to create a so-called ‘gateway’ configuration. In addition, three delivery zones for commercial traffic are being marked out, whilst the existing short-stay parking spaces will remain in place.

The total cost of the redevelopment is 64,000 euros, of which 54,000 euros will be covered by the Free State of Saxony.

In future, cyclists will be permitted to ride side by side on Nonnenstraße at all times; the pavements will continue to be reserved for pedestrians and children under the age of eight on bicycles. Motorists may only drive at the maximum permitted speed of 30 kilometres per hour if this does not obstruct or endanger cyclists. The rule to keep to the right applies on the new cycle route.

The most widely used mode of transport

Traffic surveys had shown that the bicycle is the most commonly used mode of transport on Nonnenstraße. It is also a main route in Leipzig’s cycle network. Studies show that fewer accidents occur on roads designated in this way – partly because the speed limit is adapted to the slower pace of cycle traffic.

In the run-up to the planning, a public information event was held with local residents and business owners to inform them about the upcoming changes. The Mobility and Civil Engineering Office now intends to monitor the impact of the new cycle route and make adjustments where necessary and possible.