Citizen participation in Gasperich: A quarter demands change
189 vehicles – in just one hour. Guy Baltes, a resident of Rue Beethoven in Gasperich, personally counted this number. The almost 80-year-old has lived in the quarter for decades and knows the development of road traffic only too well. At peak times, cars race through the narrow streets – often far beyond the permitted speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour. Rue Beethoven has long been no longer a residential street, but has become a much -used Schleich path through the capital.
The example of Mr. Baltes is just one of many that was documented in a two -year participatory process in the Gasperich district. Initiated by the « Ice Stad » interest association and accompanied by over 60 committed citizens, a comprehensive mobility concept was created – created for hundreds of concerns that were collected and typed on adhesive notes. Three central topics emerged: traffic calming, safe, gentle mobility and the redesign of public space to promote communal coexistence.
The interest association had already sent its proposals to the local council and the lay judge in June 2024. However, in the redesigned redesign of the municipal council at the end of March this year, these suggestions were not taken into account.
Johannes Birgmeier from the “Ice Stad” association is convinced that the city has not yet paid enough attention to citizen participation. « Actually, the city was supposed to develop a mobility concept for the whole city, but it did not come to the quarter, » he criticizes. Instead, the citizens themselves took over the initiative. The concerns are recurring topics, which are largely found in the urban « Mobilitéitsplang Fir Muer ».
« With Wuppes » through Rue de Gasperich
During walks through the district, organized by the interest association, the participants highlighted the positive and negative aspects of their surroundings. The impressions collected in this way were analyzed together with traffic experts and translated into concrete suggestions. This created a plan that is tailored to the actual needs of the local people.
Charlotte Heldenstein, co -organizer of the project, emphasizes: « We make suggestions based on the concerns expressed – of course there are also alternatives. »
Again and again in conversation is the place « at the Auer », which is located at a roundabout. Some would prefer to remove the roundabout to create space for a meeting zone. Others are satisfied with the situation there. Guy Baltes would not change the place. « I have already lived in Gasperich, nobody has thought of the roundabout yet, » said the resident. 45 years ago, the farmers drove there instead of cars.
In his opinion, the roundabout slows down those drivers who « with Wuppes » bretted through the Rue de Gasperich. The parking spaces are irreplaceable for the business world. The roundabout will remain in the future. Mobility lay judge Patrick Goldschmidt (DP) had said in a municipal council meeting that this could not be removed, otherwise the buses can no longer drive in both directions.
For Guy Baltes, through traffic in the district and especially on his doorstep is a concern. Photo: Chris Karaba
In this context, Sarah Brock speaks about a contradiction: « We are spoiled with two parks, but we are missing places where we can simply come together. » Here the space « at the Auer » is brought into play. So far, concrete has dominated there – and at least two benches. Likewise, the desire to make the central axis like the way to the Cloche d’Or will be more pedestrous.
Desire for potential inheritance spaces instead of concrete
According to the plan of the municipality, however, the reduction of the speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour in the whole Rue de Gasperich is implemented. But others also demand structural measures: « Tempo 30 alone is not enough, » says Logan Dunn. The native American also advocates thresholds or lane narrowing – especially in Rue Beethoven, which urgently needs a new concept.
The interest association wanted to hand over the fully drawn up plan to the Schöffenrat on Friday afternoon – but nobody was present at the scheduled date. « We expect a real dialogue to arise in the future, » continued Troian. The hope: that politics takes up the suggestions and develops together with the citizens.
The Gasperich citizens want to get rid of a roundabout
Johannes Birgmeier sums it up: « Instead of looking for solutions, hell is trying to prove why it is not possible. » The ball is now clearly with politics. Even if all adhesive slips of the Gasperich working group are now typed and viewed – the results of the official “aperitours” of the city of Luxembourg remain closure for data protection reasons. The results of the urban walks in Gasperich will now be presented on June 11th.
