Kaufbeuren gives out free grit for safe winter service!

Kaufbeuren gives out free grit for safe winter service!

In Kaufbeuren, winter service is taken seriously and the city administration sets a good example. From October 31, 2025, citizens can pick up grit free of charge to optimally prepare their sidewalks and house entrances. A total of 14 pick-up locations are available in the city, where apartment owners in particular can show a little personal responsibility. Because not only the weather, but also the owners are responsible for safety on the sidewalks.

The grit can be picked up at the following locations:

• Neugablonz: Gürtlerstraße/Ecke Perlengasse, Fichtenweg, Proschwitzerstraße
• Kaufbeuren: Liegnitzer Straße/Elbinger Straße, Herzog-Friedrich-Straße – Containerplatz, Hofanger/Sonneneck, Tänzelfestplatz, Schelmenhofstraße: Parkplatz Bahnhof, Sparkassen Parkhaus – Containerplatz, Quartiersplatz Sophie-von-La-Roche-Straße, Grafensteigle
• Oberbeuren/Hirschzell/Kleinkemnat: jeweils am Feuerwehrhaus

Obligation to clear and scatter for owners

The city of Kaufbeuren clearly states that the responsibility for clearing and gritting the sidewalks lies with the owners. They are obliged to keep the sidewalks so that two pedestrians can pass each other safely - a width of around one meter is necessary here. If snowfall or ice continues, the sidewalks must be cleared again at appropriate intervals. The gritting obligation begins at 7 a.m. on weekdays and ends at 8 p.m., while on Sundays and public holidays it begins one hour later.

It is particularly important that the snow is cleared to the edge of the sidewalk and not onto the street. This makes driving easier and ensures that public spaces remain safe for everyone. We ask for your understanding if snow plows occasionally cause snow residue to come back onto the sidewalks.

Public safety in focus

But it's not just the residents who are in demand. The city administration also plays an important role in winter service. Municipalities are legally obliged to ensure that roads are cleared in snowy and icy conditions, although this is extended to crucial areas such as thoroughfares and pedestrian paths. Dangerous areas are also informed by appropriate warning signs.

Control of these measures usually begins at 5 a.m. Safety is the top priority here, so dangerous areas should be cleared and gritted between 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. The legal regulations also indicate that, in exceptional cases, snow may be shoveled to the side of the road as long as this does not obstruct visibility.

For the people of Kaufbeuren this means: First pick up the grit, then clear and spread it in good time to avoid accidents on slippery paths. This keeps winter a little safer for everyone.

Further information on the city's clearing and scattering regulations can be found on the city administration's official website. A certain degree of personal responsibility can't hurt - for your own safety and that of your fellow citizens.

For those who would like even more information, the following links provide helpful insights: Mercury reports, Allgäuer Zeitung informed, and for legal aspects of winter service there is also helpful information on the website ADAC.