BONN. Discussions about the traffic at Bonn central station have been ongoing for weeks. Now the district council has decided to set up a red cycle path on Quantiusstraße to provide more safety for cyclists. Previously there was just a dotted line. "The cycle lane and its continuous red marking will make it clear that no cars are allowed to enter, stop or park there", explains Markus Schmitz from the press office. Alexander Donja who works at the bicycle station, observed the marking work and reported that the lane was finished a week ago. “They did a really good job, it is also quite wide", she says. Cyclists have also found the new lane helpful. However, some drivers continue to park their cars on the cycle lane. Cars were also spotted driving onto the opposite cycle lane when overtaking a bus. But motorists are also critical of the situation on Quantiusstrasse, which has now become even narrower for them as a result of the new markings. Many motorists use Quantiusstrasse as a drop off or pick up place at the back of the train station.

(Original text: Niklas Schröder)

BONN-KESSENICH. The planned location of an Aldi supermarket in Kessenich or Dottendorf has been the subject of controversial discussions between politicians and residents in the southern district of Bonn for years. And there are still no concrete results to the discussions.

Years ago, Aldi submitted a preliminary building application for a site in Dottendorf. The application was rejected; however, a formal error was made in the decision. Aldi then referred to a possible claim for damages for millions of euros. Since then, the city and the company have been conducting negotiations about a possible location for the supermarket. Some years ago, the administration submitted an idea to the municipal council of offering a plot of land of its own on Rheinweg in Kessenich near the railway tracks, on which space for services and housing could be created above the supermarket. However, it was only in March of last year that a draft resolution was postponed. "The examinations as to whether the alternative to the Rheinweg location is feasible from an urban planning, traffic and legal point of view have not yet been completed", explains Kristina Buchmiller from the press office in response to a GA enquiry. For this reason, she said that at present, the discussion of the draft resolution - which has already been postponed several times - will not be continued until "a clear recommendation for a resolution that is politically acceptable to a majority has been issued. In this respect, there is also still no agreed mandate for negotiating a site," Buchmiller said.

(Original text: Gabriele Immenkeppel)

BONN. For the fifth time, the Panama Open Air festival is taking place in the Rheinaue park in Bonn and will be held this year on 3^rd and 4^th July. It is one of the biggest electronic music festivals. Local DJs as well as global stars are performing everything from techno beats to Top 40 house hits to fat bass. The line-up includes Fritz Kalkbrenner, Alle Farben, Claptone, Meduza, James Hype and Marcel Dettmann. They are joined by national and international artists from the electronic scene such as Ame, Butch, Dominik Eulberg, Felix Kröcher, Extrawelt, Jack Rush and James Hype and Klanglos.

The festival area will be divided into different themes on both days. There will be colourful, big stages as well as small and hidden stages. Other features include the infamous boardwalk, an area with shipping containers and the huge Panama Stage plus the beach. Away from the music, there are sports activities and a food festival. Sites for tents are also available. More information can be found at: www.panamaopenair.com

(Original text: Richard Bongartz)

BONN. A motorbike and a car were involved in an accident at 10am on Saturday morning at the Josephinum on Kölnerstraße. The 70-year old car driver was turning at the junction and failed to notice the 53-year old motorcyclist who was seriously injured in the subsequent collision. The junction at the Josephinum had to be completely closed off for investigation following the accident. It was then cleared again around an hour later.

(Original text: GA)

(Translations: Caroline Kusch)