Overview

• In a citizen vote on August 3, 368 residents backed maintaining Juist’s autofree tradition and rejected a motorized Bimmelbahn while 209 opposed, with turnout at 46.3 percent.
• The referendum outcome mirrors an April Gemeinderat resolution and is legally binding for two years, preventing any new motorized passenger transport on the island.
• Juist’s status as an autofree “Pferdeinsel” remains secure and freight operations by horse-drawn carts and cargo bikes are locked in under a ten-year contract.
• Today, travelers rely solely on rental bicycles and four-seat bicycle rickshaws to cover the four-kilometer distance between the airstrip and the town center.
• Island officials will now develop alternative non-motorized solutions to link the offshore airport with the town while preserving Juist’s environmental and cultural heritage.