Silke Gericke, member of Baden-Wuerttemberg’s Landtag, introduced the evening together with Guenter Riemer, Mayor of Kirchheim unter Teck and Chairman of AGFK (Work Group Cycle and Pedestrian-Friendly Communities in Baden-Wuerttemberg) and the Mayor of Ludwigsburg, Andrea Schwarz.
The political audience agreed that a strong narrative from the transformation sector was needed for more sustainable mobility in urban and rural areas in order to bring everyone on board, from local authorities to the federal government. Gericke emphasised the relevance of the cycle industry for attractive cycling and how important a comprehensive network of cycle paths across state borders is. Her group is also committed to the amendment of the German road traffic regulations. The State of Baden-Wuerttemberg is home to some major companies of the cycle industry and presents itself ambitiously. Christoph Erdmenger, Head of the Sustainable Mobility Department at Baden-Wuerttemberg’s Ministry of Transport, presented in a short speech the state government's most important projects including the goal of reducing car traffic in cities by 50 per cent.
People on the spot are further ahead than politicians
“The mobility transition will not be decided in Berlin alone, it needs offers for rural areas. People on the spot are often further ahead than politicians and would like to cycle more. Where it is possible, people have long since used the bike,“ states Wasilis von Rauch, CEO of Zukunft Fahrrad. “Local authorities benefit from regional jobs and the creation of value in these areas. Baden-Wuerttemberg with its strong engineering technology, can become a model region when it comes to the transformation of the mobility industry. Major car manufacturers are here at home as well as global market leaders and international players from the cycle industry.”
Zukunft Fahrrad was a guest of Zedler-Institut in Ludwigsburg. The company is founding member of the association. On the spot, the host granted a look behind the scenes of the test laboratory. The climate-positive building and the exhibition on 200 years of cycling history attracted a lot of attention. Founder Dirk Zedler, chairman of Zukunft Fahrrad: “Baden-Württemberg belongs to the states leading in technology and innovation and is simply worth living in with attractive job opportunities. That’s what it has in common with the cycle industry. If too little is happening for cycling on the national level, the states must lead the way. What is needed now is a pioneering spirit instead of waiting for everyone to join in.”
Author: Sebastian Gengenbach
Photo: DH_Zedler-Institut
