© dpa
From September 9, cyclists in Berlin will be able to see new road traffic displays that should make the journey to the next traffic light more relaxed.
The small monitors show whether the next traffic light will show red or green when the cyclist arrives there. The pilot project will be launched on Kreuzbergstraße, and displays will also be put into operation on three other streets at a later date.
"This is intended to make cycling traffic flow more smoothly by avoiding unnecessary braking and starting," the Senate Department for Transport said in response to an inquiry. This would allow cyclists to adjust their speed at an early stage. The traffic administration hopes that this will result in fewer cyclists speeding through red lights. However, the displays do not take into account the current speed of the cyclist in question, but generally assume a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
The displays will be installed on Invalidenstraße (10 displays), Stargarder Straße/ Schönhauser Allee/ Prenzlauer Allee (9), Handjerystraße/ Prinzregentenstraße (2) and Langenscheidtstraße/ Kreuzbergstraße (2). The monitors are located around 200 meters in front of the corresponding traffic lights.
The project called VeloFlow is 85 percent funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport. According to the traffic administration, one display costs just under 3,000 euros to purchase. "In addition, there are the development costs for the power supply, the costs for digitizing the traffic light system and other planning costs," a spokesperson said. The effects of the pilot project on traffic and driving behavior will be comprehensively evaluated.