Anger about climate stickers

Fernpass blockade “simply mean”

(Bild: Letzte Generation)

Astrid Mair, Tyrol's State Councillor for Safety, has no sympathy for the last generation activists' sticker campaign on the Fernpass route on Saturday morning. On one of the busiest weekends of the year, of all days, blocking important supply routes such as the Fernpass is simply "mean" to the local population.

It was six activists who brought vacation traffic on the Fernpass road (B179) to a standstill with their protest at Fernsteinsee. Between Biberwier (district of Reutte) and Nassereith (district of Imst), it was no longer possible to make any progress at times, with traffic jams stretching for miles. "Stuck on the Fernpass - We demand better public transport, as recommended by the Climate Council", was the message from the "Last Generation".

The climate stickers caused annoyed holidaymakers on the Fernpass.(Bild: Letzte Generation)

According to the police, four of the six activists got stuck on the road at around 10 am. Due to the high volume of traffic and the lack of a bypass, a massive traffic jam formed in both directions within a very short time.

Traffic also broke down completely in Nassereith. The action was stopped by the police at 10.30 a.m. on the instructions of the authorities, and the activists, who were behaving cooperatively, removed themselves from the road using solvents they had brought with them.

(Bild: Letzte Generation)

Two and a half hours lost
At around 10.40 a.m., the Fernpass road was open to traffic again. Nevertheless, according to the ÖAMTC, German holidaymakers were still about three kilometers behind when entering the Füssen border tunnel late in the morning. The time lost in the southbound direction was two and a half hours.

Some German tourists behaved very aggressively towards the activists, said Marina Hagen-Canaval from the "Last Generation". However, she noted: "We don't want to disturb anyone on their way to a well-deserved rest, but we have to. The climate catastrophe is escalating and instead of taking countermeasures, our chancellor is partying the night away at balls."

Tougher penalties demanded for climate offenders
"It is highly irresponsible to endanger others for the sake of actionism," said Mair on Saturday, showing no understanding for the campaign. Especially on one of the busiest weekends of the year, it is simply "mean" to the local population to block important supply routes such as the Fernpass. Mair announced that he would continue to lobby the federal government for tougher penalties for climate stickers.

Deputy Governor Georg Dornauer also commented on the action on Saturday. He described the blockade of the Fernpass route as "last class" and showed understanding for the anger of those affected: "Most of the people who have arrived today and are rightly angry will spend the next few days in our tourist destination of Tyrol, strengthening our prosperity and securing jobs."

For me, one thing is certain: the federal government is responsible for getting the problem under control as quickly as possible. Tough penalties are needed to get these chaotic drivers off our roads.

LH-Stv. Georg Dornauer

However, the vacation shift change not only led to increased traffic volumes on the Fernpass, but throughout Tyrol. There were also delays at the Scharnitz (B177) and Achenpass (B181) border points as well as in the Ötz and Zillertal valleys.