Spotty outdoor lighting Some lamps stay dark on Rheinaue paths

BONN · Large parts of the pathways at the Rheinaue remain unlighted because facilities are quite old and need to be retrofitted. But the city administration seems to be taking its time.

Every evening it’s the same picture: When Christoph Tepper rides home from the Post Tower after work, he has to be quite careful in these weeks on his way through the Rheinaue. "In the Rheinaue, many paths are basically unlighted," says the Bonn resident. And he regularly encounters joggers, cyclists, leashed dogs and waterfowl. Since the climate conference, all lamps have also been switched off on the way from the Rheinaue Stadtbahn station to Charles-de-Gaulle-Strasse. "That's a real security risk," says Tepper.

For the city administration, the news is not new. In fact, they have turned off the lights, confirms Markus Schmitz from the city press office. The lamps in the Rheinaue would have reached their technical life at the age of 40 and are now to be replaced by energy-saving LED lights: "Under these circumstances, unfortunately, it can not be avoided that some areas are in the dark," says Schmitz.

When it comes to retrofitting, the administration is taking its time: Already in October 2016, General-Anzeiger reported that all lamps between the Post Tower and the South Bridge had been switched off. Significant failures also occurred in other parts at the river, these are managed by SWB (Bonn Public Works) subsidiary Bonnetz.

No increase in accidents or crime

In the years 2016 and 2017, only 30 lamps were exchanged between Herbert-Wehner-Platz and Brückenmarkt, explains Schmitz. Then the climate conference came and since then, the work was suspended. But in the spring, the eight non-functioning lamps are to be replaced, promised the press office. The city administration had said it was a goal to complete this work by the end of the year.

Residents had to wait even longer on the right bank of the Rhine. It was only in autumn 2017 that the district of Beuel voted for lighting in the section between Wolkenburgweg and Bonner Bogen. At a cost of around 150,000 euros, 26 lanterns are to be installed there. For 19 years, there was apparently no money available for the lighting desired by many citizens. Now contracts for civil engineering and electrical work have been awarded for the right bank of the Rhine and the lamps have also been ordered, explains Schmitz. In the course of the work, the opposite left bank of the Rhine between the UN campus and the south bridge should also be provided with lighting throughout. The press office says plans are underway.

According to information from Bonn police, there has not been an increase in accidents or crimes as a result of the defunct lighting. Police spokesman Frank Piontek points out that part of the area was illuminated during the construction and dismantling work in the Bonn zone of the climate conference. "Regardless of the situation in the Rheinaue, we appeal to all cyclists to turn on their required bicycle lighting in the dark," Piontek adds. Walkers or runners should wear bright clothes. Many runners now wear reflectors on their clothes or headlamps to avoid collisions.

Orig. text: Martin Wein

Translation: ck

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