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18 000 signatures for the security of the cyclists INSTALLATION | Despite its 150 kilometers of cycle tracks, Geneva remains a poorly conceived city for the bicycles.
© Olivier Vogelsang |
Marc Mill | 22.09.2009 | 13:32

The parliaments of the six french-speaking districts will have floor on the petitions, launched simultanément in February, that claim more d’aménagements to assure the security to bicycle. Most of the 18’444 sign harvested will be deposited aujourd’hui Tuesday, to l’exception of the 4’252 signatures genevoises: these will await l’intronisation of the Big new Counsel that will be elected October 11.

Characteristic of this petition: she emanates at once promoters of the soft mobility and environments of the athletic bicycle. With a simple claim: to roll in security. And on the basis d’un report: the Swiss alémanique more better is equipped. « The french-speaking delay is phenomenal, and nevertheless one is in the same country, scolds the coordinatrice genevoise of Pro Bicycle, Delphine Klopfenstein. Unfair C’est! » According to her, the number of injured cyclists backs up Besides sarine then continuous qu’il d’augmenter in french-speaking Switzerland. « Every train station alémanique disposes dune bicycle station, then french-speaking Swiss qu’en one some always awaits a », she exemplifie-t-elle.

For this that touches Geneva in particular, the city figures nevertheless among the more better endowed with 150 kilometers of tracks or cycle bands. « Notable C’est, but there remains strategic zones that some are totally devoid, as the Bridge of the Coulouvrenière where the traffic cyclist nevertheless increased of 43% in two years, underlines Delphine Klopfenstein. Certain installations existing s’interrompent brutally, d’autres are inadequate for they shear too often the rails of tram or again are invaded by the scooters. »

In a manner general, Geneva, that is heiress dune heavy tradition automobile, remains poorly conceived for the bicycle, according to Pro Bicycle: « That holds also to the behavior of the users: according to the rule, the cyclists must roll to at least a meter of the parked cars to avoid the untimely openings of car doors, follows Delphine Klopfenstein. S’il is possible to respect the law to Fools, c’est impensable to Geneva where a motorist will always finish by to do you to feel his impatience or by to surpass you dangerous. »

All project urbanistique henceforth should be examined by a specialist of the two front wheels d’être finalized, estimates the campaigning. Which one recognizes besides that certain cyclists behave themselves in « road hogs », borrowing the sidewalks where they bother the pedestrians. But for her, « that often is linked to positions where put shoes on it is excessively dangerous, as for example on the bridge of the White Mount. »

This petition brings an indirect support to popular l’initiative « active traffic », launched in six swiss districts, and that resulted in July to Geneva. The text demands notably that the whole network primary road and secondary is provided with cycle reassured tracks and continuous.