Danube-Networkers
A Pedestrian Bridge in Ulm
Text: Agathe Wende
I live on the bank of the river Danube, which belongs to Ulm, on the "Gallow Hill".
Between this part of the town and the river is a railway line. Over the rails and then over the river a pedestrian and bicycle bridge crosses the river. Nearby the "Adenauer Bridge" with its many tracks leads the traffic over the Danube. On the pedestrian bridge you are not forced to inhale the exhaust fumes of the cars. Therefore it is popular with pedestrians and cyclists.
For forty years I live at the same place and for as many years I often went over this small bridge. First I pushed a pram, then led children by hand over the broad balustrade of the bridge. Often I thought how lovely it is on the bridge. I put my hand in front of my face, absorbed by the view of the Cathedral. At other times I bent forwards, looked over the balustrade down on the fresh green waves of the Danube.
But now I stop sometimes with tears in my eyes , there where the bridge ends and the broad New Ulm promenade at the bank of the river begins. Here my husband, 84 years old, fell down. Hard of hearing he did not hear a cyclist overtaking him at high speed. My husband jumped sideways and fell on his face. His nose was broken, a red pulp .Even when the nose was repaired this fall was the first sign of a good-bye forever for me.
And so this bridge without a name became part of my biography.
