Mainz firmly condemns the road condition
In the heart of Germany, the city of Mainz is grappling with an extended closure of a crucial bike path under the Schiersteiner Bridge. The path, a significant commuting route between Mainz and Wiesbaden, also leads to the popular recreational area of Rettbergsaue.
Since November 2024, the city has been waiting for Autobahn GmbH to address defects on the bike path. However, the repair work has been delayed "indefinitely," leaving the path closed and causing a stir among city officials and residents.
Janina Steinkrueger, Mainz's environmental commissioner, has been particularly vocal about the issue. She criticised Autobahn GmbH for the delay, accusing them of treating cyclists as "second-class traffic participants." Steinkrueger also blames Autobahn GmbH for the vandalism that has occurred due to the prolonged closure.
The estimated costs for repairing the bike path are significantly lower than for a section of highway, ranging from 600,000 to 2 million euros. Steinkrueger believes that if Autobahn GmbH had addressed the reported defects promptly, the extended closure would not have occurred.
The Wiesbaden side of the bike path has already been reopened, leaving Mainz as the only side affected by the closure. Frustrated by the continued delay since March/April 2025, the city sees no reason for the ongoing delay in the repair work.
On Friday, the city expressed its frustration, with Steinkrueger attributing the vandalism on the closed path to the prolonged closure. The city is urging Autobahn GmbH to prioritise the repair work to ensure the safety and convenience of cyclists and to restore the path as a vital commuting and recreational route.
In light of the delayed repair work on the bike path under Schiersteiner Bridge, Janina Steinkrueger, Mainz's environmental commissioner, has called out Autobahn GmbH for their treatment of cyclists as "second-class traffic participants." Steinkrueger suggests that addressing the reported defects promptly would have prevented the extended closure and potential vandalism in the other industry, such as transportation, as the path serves as a significant commuting route between Mainz and Wiesbaden, and leads to the popular recreational area of Rettbergsaue.
