Cyclists heading west through Luxembourg City are all too familiar with a key obstacle: the absence of a dedicated cycle lane along Avenue Marie-Thérèse near the municipal park.

For 60 metres, cyclists and pedestrians are forced to share a narrow footpath, raising significant safety concerns.

To address the issue, the Democratic Party (DP) has proposed narrowing the park by 1.45 metres to complete the cycle path. Feasibility studies are currently underway, and DP politician Patrick Goldschmidt expects results by January.

Greens strongly oppose proposal

The proposal has sparked backlash from the Greens, who voiced their opposition during Wednesday's Mobility Commission meeting. Municipal Councillor François Benoy stressed that the park should remain untouched, noting that the plan would impact nearly 100 square metres of green space.

Instead, the Greens suggest reintroducing the temporary 'pop-up cycle lane' in the right-hand car lane as had previously been tested. After all, Avenue Marie-Thérèse has four lanes.

"There is 20 metres of space here, which is more than enough to prioritise sustainable mobility without encroaching on green spaces," Benoy argued. "Reducing parkland contradicts not only your own mobility plan but also the City’s greening policies."

Park scrapped for cycling lane but not for tram - a hypocrisy?

 

Benoy also fears the proposal might set a precedent for mobility plans. He accused the DP of inconsistency, noting that the mayor had rejected proposals to extend the tram through Avenue de la Porte-Neuve at the cost of the park during the election campaign. Considering alterations for a cycle lane seems hypocritical to him.

Goldschmidt, on the other hand, defended the proposal, emphasising that the two cases are incomparable. In the case of the cycle lane, only small hedges might be affected, whereas the earlier tram proposals would involve tree removals.

To Goldschmidt, the pop-up cycle lane proposal is unviable, recounting that this had created significant traffic congestion at the junction, impacting cyclists, buses, and cars alike. "After 8 months of testing, it is clear that this isn't a viable solution. There was an extreme bottleneck, with trams and buses partially blocked at the junction," he said.

Benoy countered that better traffic management and traffic light control could solve these issues. These also fall under the City's mobility plan, which aims to achieve 50% sustainable mobility within the capital in the long term.

Bike lane could be operational by spring 2025

The feasibility assessment is set to conclude in January, which Goldschmidt is optimistic about. Should the plan move forward, the new cycle path could be operational by spring 2025.