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Demo in the Schwabtunnel: Cyclists fight for safety and justice!
On July 4, 2025, environmental activists demonstrated in Stuttgart-South for more safety in the Schwabtunnel, a conflict point for road users.
Demo in the Schwabtunnel: Cyclists fight for safety and justice!
The Schwabtunnel in Stuttgart, whose construction dates back to the end of the 19th century, is increasingly becoming the focal point of modern mobility conflicts. Between 15,000 and 20,000 motor vehicles use the 125 meter long tunnel, which is a listed building, every day. Users report an unpleasant environment: narrow, dark and loud, the tunnel is perceived by cyclists and pedestrians as dangerous and unsafe. This problem has led to strong public discontent, which erupted on July 4, 2025 in a demonstration for more safety in the Schwabtunnel. Environmental initiatives and transport transition activists organized the protest, in which participants demanded traffic regulations that only allow buses, bicycles and pedestrians into the tunnel. Among the supporters of the initiative are organizations such as the ADFC, VCD, Greenpeace and the BUND.
A central theme at this demonstration was the dangerous overtaking maneuvers that cyclists are increasingly reporting. As a result, many parents take detours of up to two kilometers to avoid the Schwabtunnel. A look at the accident statistics for 2024 reveals the urgency of these demands: 436 bicycle accidents and 248 Pedelec accidents were recorded, which means an increase of 23% compared to previous years.
Safety measures and traffic regulations
The West District Advisory Council is open to the idea of an environmental trail in the Schwabtunnel, while the residents of the South District are rather skeptical. In this context, short-term measures that could increase safety in the tunnel are being discussed. Proposals include the introduction of a 30 km/h zone, the installation of pictograms, bollards, protective strips and an increased police presence. These discussions are accompanied by an emotional debate about transport policy. There are repeated conflicts between drivers and cyclists, which further inflame the tense atmosphere in the tunnel.
The city of Stuttgart has set itself the ambitious goal of achieving a cycling share of 25% by 2030, but this is currently only 14%. The demands for improvements for cyclists in the Schwabtunnel are not only in the context of safety, but also in the fundamental question of how streets should be used by different road users. Some critics claim that cyclists use roads for free and therefore should not make demands. This raises the fundamental question of whether roads belong to them more due to the higher number of drivers. A fact check on these controversial claims was also covered in an article dealing with the traffic situation in the Schwabtunnel.
The city of Stuttgart is therefore faced with an enormous challenge: creating safe traffic conditions for all users is fundamental to realizing the vision of a bicycle-friendly city. It remains to be seen how quickly and effectively the demands will be responded to in order to improve cooperation between road users in the Schwabtunnel and beyond.