Autumn leaves in Bremen: Road safety at risk – who is responsible?

Autumn leaves in Bremen: Road safety at risk – who is responsible?

Autumn has Bremen firmly under control. The first colorful leaves are already covering the streets, footpaths and cycle paths. But this picturesque backdrop also harbors dangers, as the Bremen city cleaning service draws attention to. Wet weather can create slippery foliage, which is particularly challenging for pedestrians and cyclists. It is important to keep an attentive eye here, because the traffic safety obligation not only affects residents, but also the annual leaf removal obligations.

In Bremen, responsibility for cleaning properties and sidewalks lies with the owners. After buten and within You must ensure that leaves, snow and ice are removed regularly. The legal provisions for this are anchored in the Bremen State Roads Act (BremLStrG). The obligations can also be transferred to tenants or cleaning companies, but homeowners are generally required to keep the sidewalks in front of their properties clean.

Disposing of leaves made easy

The leaves can be disposed of in various ways. Smaller quantities find their place in the organic waste bin or can be processed in a compost heap in the garden. If you have larger quantities, you can hand them in up to one cubic meter free of charge to recycling stations in Bremen. In Bremerhaven, the Bremerhaven waste disposal companies (EBB) take care of leaves on public paths. The green waste collection points “Grauer Wall” and “Bauer” also accept leaves.

Foliage also has some positive sides: among other things, it serves as a secret shelter for hedgehogs and skillfully attracts the eye from autumnal gardens. If there is frost, the leaves can even be used as natural frost protection on beds. The Bremen city cleaning service has more than 70,000 street trees in the city area, which produce over 20,000 tons of garden waste - mainly leaves - every year. This means large amounts of material that needs to be disposed of regularly.

Clearance duties in the fall

Spatial responsibility also includes cleaning the sidewalks on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rumored regulations for the use of leaf blowers stipulate that they should only be used in certain time windows: their use is permitted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., while they must be avoided on Sundays and public holidays.

Separate rules apply, particularly in commercial and industrial areas. There, the operating ban between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. does not apply if the devices are used commercially. In order to avoid accidents and injuries, the traffic safety obligation is particularly high: owners and operators are obliged to ensure the safety of their outdoor areas. This includes regular inspections and documentation of all maintenance measures, such as the removal of wet leaves, which can lead to accidents TÜV Academy thematised.

There is a lot to be done in Bremen so that the autumn leaves not only decorate the landscape, but also pedestrians and cyclists can navigate the streets safely. A good hand at leaf removal undoubtedly increases everyone's safety. It remains to be hoped that residents and businesses will conscientiously comply with their evacuation obligations and can enjoy an autumn full of colors and safe paths!