GA English on Sunday News in Brief from Bonn and the region

Bonn/Region · rain accident causes disruption, construction works in Bad Godesberg, new e-scooter supplier in Bonn and symposium on child poverty - here is our news in brief on Sunday.

GA English on Sunday: News in Brief from Bonn and the region
Foto: Lino Mirgeler

Disruptions to train services on Saturday

BONN. Brühl train station was temporarily closed on Saturday evening following an accident on the line between Bonn and Cologne. According to Deutsche Bahn, the trains in the section between Koblenz and Cologne were diverted. This affected the EC6 and the ICE 929 trains. The stops at Bonn central station, Andernach and Remagen were cancelled and Bonn-Beuel station was used as an alternative stop. There were delays of around 20 to 30 minutes. (Original text: GA)

Construction works in Bad Godesberg

BAD GODESBERG An urban master plan outlines the road construction projects to be carried out in Bad Godesberg in the coming weeks. The plan lists the projects which the city is legally obliged to implement. These projects include sewer renovation as well as new road construction, maintenance and rail work. In addition, Bad Godesberg is likely to see a Deutsche Bahn project that has been waiting in the wings for some time – work is now underway behind the train station on Von-Groote-Platz. Access to the station from the villa district will be made suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The ramp here should have been built in summer 2019, but it was cancelled after the first tender process was unsuccessful. In a press release the Bürger Bund Bonn (BBB) announced that it is pleased that the work has commenced, however, it would have been preferable to complete the ramp at the same time as Ria-Maternus-Platz. This square should be completed by the end of March at the latest, according to the city. There is still a small area to be paved and some work to be done on the pump technology for the fountain.

On Monday, works will begin in other areas, such as on Friesdorfer Strasse between Bernkasteler and Weststrasse. Here the gutter and curb areas will be regulated, and various installation parts will be adapted, including the manhole covers. (Original text: Ayla Jacob und Martin Steinhauer)

New e-scooter supplier in Bonn

BONN Last year the companies Tier und Lime introduced their e-scooters to Bonn. Now another supplier has joined, although not yet officially - the Dutch company Dott already provides 150 to 200 of the electric scooters in the city. They can be recognized by their colourful paintwork.

Michael Dietrich from the Ballou agency, which has taken over the public relations work for Dott, confirmed that the scooters are not only visible in the corresponding app, but can also be unlocked and driven. Activation costs one euro and riders are charged 20 cents per minute - an introductory price that the company is offering during a test run. During the current pre-launch stage, Dott is testing out the functioning of the software and the e-scooters. The company is aiming to officially start in a few weeks’ time. The fee will then be increased to 23 cents per minute. (Original text: amb)

Symposium for child poverty

BONN. Despite the wealth of the city, one in five children in Bonn is still affected by poverty. On Friday a symposium organised by the Round Table against Child Poverty (Runden Tisch gegen Kinderarmut) was held with the aim of creating a common strategy in the fight against child, youth and family poverty. By the end of the discussions, 100 participants from welfare organisations, administration, associations and politics had adopted a catalogue of measures.

A municipal network is to clearly define responsibilities and make sure that all those working in offices, at job centres and employment agencies, schools, independent organisations and in the health care system are equipped to take socio-political action. The structures and the preventive measures to relieve the burden on families, such as Bonn ID cards and free school breakfasts, are to be financed on a secure, long-term basis.

Particular support is required for single parents, parents without sufficient language skills, the mentally or chronically ill, and homeless people. Moreover, many of those affected are not aware of their entitlement to help. Surveys have shown that parents request more simplified application processes, lower level access to childcare services, and free sports, leisure and tutoring opportunities. On the other hand, many parents in need do not accept help, two social workers reported frustratedly. The best way to reach these families would probably be through school social workers. Others concluded that information material translated into even more languages would help to build bridges. This would certainly support the communication of offerings to poorer families in Bonn: for example, the Bonn ID card, the distribution of food by the Bonner Tafel food bank or the Job Café in the Job Centre. (Original text: Ebba Hagenberg-Miliu)

(Translations: Caroline Kusch)

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