Consternation over extent of 30-kph-zone

Last week the city department of planning published this map on its website to show the area where it plans to introduce a 30-kph-zone to reduce noise, namely in the area between Kolinplatz and the Theater Casino.

As can be seen from the map, the proposal includes a 30-kph-speed-limit on part of Grabenstrasse, the area marked in yellow, in addition to nearby Aegeristrasse and Neugasse, marked in green. The part of Grabenstrasse marked in yellow indicates that noise levels are to be tested there, too.

However, it seems this plan to impose such a speed restriction on what is part of a cantonal road could well be controversial.

Reacting to the announcement, Thomas Ulrich, the chairman of the Zug Branch of the Touring Club de Suisse (TCS), said, “That the council plans to impose this restriction, three times the extent of what they said it would be, is appalling. It seems they have been withholding this information and leaves us with no other option than to resort to legal means to prevent it. In the day-time you cannot travel faster than 30 kph on Grabenstrasse anyway,” adding how there had been studies which had shown that, when travelling at 30 kph, vehicles emitted more harmful substances than when travelling at 50 kph.

Ulrich went onto say that, in order to reduce the level of noise, it would be better to make use of a silent road surface or tyres which caused less noise. “You cannot just have an authority imposing a limit like this on a road which has not been subject to noise monitoring. Might I add we at the TCS had not been informed about this in advance. Like all motorists, we have just been presented with a fait accompli.”

On the other hand, Daniel Brunner, who has been campaigning for a reduction in the level of noise on the street since 2007, is pleased that the 30-kph zone is to be extended beyond just part of Grabenstrasse and that it includes the bus-turning area by the Theater Casino. He felt a restriction in the lower part of Aegeristrasse alone would mean drivers accelerating as they left it, leading to greater emissions for local residents.

For his part, Roger Marcolin of the Zug section of the Automobil Club der Schweiz (ACS), said the imposition of a 30-kph-zone on cantonal streets could lead to people who exceeded it only by a minimum amount losing their driving licences. Like Ulrich, he also said no-one could really drive faster than 30 kph in the day-time anyway, and noise reduction at night would be minimal only.

Bearing in mind the fact that the planned area to have a 30-kph-speed-limit imposed on it is three times longer than Grabenstrasse itself, he felt alternative solutions should be considered and also suggested resolving the matter through a referendum.