The Municipal Council, chaired by the Mayor Franz Caruso, on the proposal of the councilor for mobility and transport Damiano Covelli approved the address act to proceed with some changes to city trafficalso approving the outline of the replacement and/or supplementary cycle paths to be built as an alternative to the existing ones, in the area between the southern end of Viale Giacomo Mancini and Piazza dei Bruzi. “It is appropriate to clear the field of any misunderstanding – underlined Mayor Franz Caruso in giving the news of the approval of the measure by the council -. Our Administration – added Franz Caruso – will not dismantle anything, but will extend the cycle paths by one kilometre, rationalising the routes. and, above all, making them safer, more intuitive and better compatible with the flow of motorists. On this aspect, the representatives of FIAB (the Italian Federation of Environment and Bikes Cosenza) with whom we have always spoken, can be more than calm. The municipal administration does not go “the wrong way”, but proceeds quickly in the right direction, which is that of respect for those who love two wheels and the safety of cyclists and cycling enthusiasts. The new project was born, in fact, from the need to increase the safety of cycle paths, avoiding the many accidents that have occurred. Our administration will go even further – adds Franz Caruso. With the new Cosenza-Rende Urban Agenda, which provides a line of financing for cycling infrastructure, we will be able, in conjunction with the Municipality of Rende, to implement the project that includes a cycle path that starts from the Confluence of the Rivers and that, along the Crati, will arrive right up to Rende, with the possibility of extending, involving all the other municipalities on the right bank of the Crati, up to Sibari where the mouth of the river is located.. A new cycle path is also planned that will develop in the area behind the “i Due Fiumi” shopping centre and rejoin near the Calatrava Bridge.
Today’s council measure, therefore – continued Franz Caruso – does not intend to take anything away from anyone, but only to improve the conditions of safe cycling for those who use the cycle paths that represent a fundamental element of our city and its mobility. It is clear that to improve bicycle mobility, preparatory interventions must be implemented to obtain improved situations for travel on two wheels. The presence of the structures delimiting the cycle paths along the west side of Piazza Giacomo Mancini (in the section between Viale Giacomo Mancini and Viale Trieste), along the west side of Piazza Matteotti and the east side of via Sertorio Quattromani, do not facilitate this change, just as, moreover, they do not guarantee an efficient and safe cycling connection between points of significant interest at present. Hence – explained Mayor Franz Caruso – the need to propose integrations that underlie the public interest in free and safe vehicular and pedestrian mobility, through integrative interventions that can contribute to reducing traffic flow congestion during particular moments of the day. We have therefore decided to redefine the cycle path circuit, near the Town Hall, identifying alternative routes to the existing ones, pending a more complete reprogramming to be carried out in implementation of the PUMS, in order to connect the spaces near the seat of our town hall with the city cycle circuit”.
The Board resolution therefore instructed the Manager of the Maintenance sector to proceed with the removal of the existing cycle path delimitation structures and to establish horizontal and vertical signage in the area affected by the modifications. The Manager of the Roads, Transport and Mobility sector was also instructed to prepare all necessary documents for the establishment of regulated parking areas along the west side of Piazza Matteotti and the west side of Via Sertorio Quattromani, and to restore traffic flow along the area affected by the planned interventions.