Munich: The kick of cyclists in winter – Munich

They used to be black, then they were painted red, later also green, and now the cycle paths have a new color again: white. Not that the town hall coalition of the CSU would have given in, which could see illegal election campaign help for the government in the previously green-red color scheme. Rather, the new color is given, year after year, by winter. And because Dieter Reiter’s PS coalition not only paves the way for large cars, but also for winter sports enthusiasts, the snow tracks along the car tracks are systematically maintained. Real cyclists enjoy this challenge. Every child and centenarian can ride on cleared and gritted paths, only ice cyclists can master a white path.

Creating such trails is very easy, the building department is used to it. You do nothing. Simply nothing, the Icetrail is created all by itself. Okay, you can spread three grains of chippings on every square meter if one of the insecure summer cyclists complains. But nothing more, it is important to maintain the slip factor. Because an extreme athlete loves the thrill. Some dream of sailing down the Olympic Tower in a wingsuit, others cycle to work in Munich in December. Some hope that their parachute will open, others calculate their chance of survival if their bike tips over and a truck is just overtaking.

When snow falls, the multiple quality of those paths that are only separated from the autobahn by lines becomes apparent. The road traffic regulations say that protective strips are what they are called in the building department Triple Use Lane. One way, triple benefit. The cyclists are no longer in the way of the motorists, at the same time the bike lane offers space to clear the snow to the right. And the cyclists also benefit: Within a few hours, their tires form ice grooves. In comparison, every single trail for mountain bikers is a boring chaussee.

In this grey-white splendour, the CSU opposition now slithers along and complains, so to speak, as moral apostles. She demands: “Increase safety on cycle paths – spread salt!” Are these Christian-social climate whiners just thinking about the traffic turnaround? And not at all about the future? Because for the next Olympic application they are already working in the town hall Ice Bike Competition out, as a unique selling point of Bike Capital Munich. It’s a good thing that the CSU hasn’t yet come up with the idea of ​​demanding the clearing and de-icing of Munich’s cycle streets. These ice cream bike retreats will remain dirty white for the time being, thanks to black, red and green.

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