The road to a successful referendum is long. Bavaria's Radentscheid has been looking for supporters across the country for months. The next hurdle is likely to be much more difficult.
Munich (dpa/lby) - Almost five months after the start of the Bavarian Radentscheid, the initiators want to hand over the collected signatures to the municipalities on Wednesday (9 a.m.). According to reports, the alliance of associations and parties was able to easily achieve the 25,000 signatures required for the application for approval of the referendum. The details are to be given on Wednesday, including in Munich, where Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) wants to accept the signatures.
The aim of the campaign is to improve the cycle path network in Bavaria. The initiators, which include the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC), criticize that there are currently no cycle paths on well over half of the state or federal roads.
The referendum aims to make cycling in the Free State safer and more attractive. The alliance demands that by 2030, a quarter of traffic in the Free State should be covered by bike. The municipalities should be supported in the planning and construction of the cycle paths.
The application for approval of the referendum must be signed by at least 25,000 voters. If the request gets the necessary signatures - after all, a tenth of those entitled to vote in Bavaria - it must be presented by the Prime Minister in the state parliament within four weeks. If the referendum is then accepted by the state parliament within three months, there is no subsequent referendum. However, if Parliament rejects the bill, the people must decide. In addition, the state parliament can also offer an alternative.
