Germany: Climate activists, cyclists oppose autobahn expansion
Cyclists and climate activists across Germany have defied autobahn construction, arguing that more roading and relentless car traffic violate urgent global climate rescue goals.
Cyclists and climate activists protesting on the B54 near Dortmund
Climate activists challenged Germany s motorway and individualized car industry on Saturday in a day of action by interrupting autobahn construction and traffic at sites near Berlin, Wittenberg, Dortmund and Kassel dotted around Germany s 13,000-kilometer (8,100-mile) open speed roading network.
The diverse protests led by activist groups such as Robin Wood and Sand in the Gears [Sand im Getriebe] claimed excessive costs put at €200,000 ($243,000) per meter for Berlin s A100 autobahn extension will exacerbate the global climate crisis instead of being invested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.