Amanda Augustin from Raumteiler finds the traffic situation in the busy Humboldtstrasse “extremely uncomfortable”. The cultural association wants to draw attention to this on Sunday, September 3 with a parade and a Grätzelfest “Humbum” around the Hessenpark. There is celebration, eating and dancing. Local associations, initiatives and businesses can present themselves at a 300-meter-long “cultural table”. The parade itself will halt traffic on the thoroughfare for half an hour.
Despite the price, many hurdles
It was originally planned differently. The festival should have taken place directly on Humboldtstrasse, which would have banned cars for a whole day. The city of Linz even awarded the idea the prize for innovative district cultural work. That was two years ago. When it came to implementation, however, Augustin and her fellow campaigners had to realize that Humboldtstraße is not just any street, but “the holy grail of streets”. They didn’t even get permission to block the road for a Sunday. This meant that the street festival was cancelled, only a small happening on the parking lane in front of the clubhouse was possible.
Traffic calming issue
Now, a year later, after an open letter to the city politicians and many meetings and negotiations with the police and politicians, a compromise was agreed. The first Grätzelfest in the Neustadtviertel can take place, even if not directly on Humboldtstraße.
Many clubs, initiatives and companies from the Neustadtviertel are taking part, because the organizers are not alone in calling for traffic calming. For years, residents have been complaining about the traffic load, car posers and speeders. But little has happened so far.
First measures after the accident
After a fatal speeding accident in 2021, two speed traps were set up, and there has been a night driving ban in the area between the Südtiroler Strasse and the Landstrasse since this year. Recently, a lane narrowing on the south side of Hessenplatz was announced to make the route less attractive for speeders. The big hit in terms of traffic calming should only come with the inner city concept, which is currently being worked on. The city has announced results for autumn 2024.
Hajart wants to divert regional buses
The Raumteiler cultural association was supported by the Linz traffic officer, Deputy Mayor Martin Hajart (VP). “I essentially share the goal of traffic calming, but Humboldtstrasse is a really tough one,” says Hajart. One reason is the many bus connections, “there are hundreds of buses every day, especially national ones”. The bus lanes required for this make traffic calming more difficult. Hajart’s idea: In future, the OÖVV buses from the Mühlviertel should be routed over the West Ring Bridge and, as long as the West Ring is not finished, continue over the West Tangente to the train station. This would massively speed up public transport and significantly reduce traffic congestion on Humboldtstrasse. Then you could also widen the space for pedestrians.
Anyone who wants to experience the Humboldtstrasse without traffic has the opportunity to do so on Sunday. The parade starts at 1 p.m. on Goethestrasse, followed by celebrations around Hessenpark until 8 p.m.
More information about the festival and parade at raumteiler-linz.at
Source: Nachrichten
