Inclusion

In accordance with its Strategic Goals, the City of Monheim am Rhein sees itself as a "City for Everyone" where inclusion and equal opportunities are actively promoted and realized.

Every person is unique and everyone can contribute to a society that appreciates diversity, actively promotes participation and enables all of its members to be involved. No-one is excluded. Appreciation for everyone in the community: that is the idea of inclusion. Inclusion is only possible through accessibility. Accessibility starts with a ramp, but also includes many other and very different areas. That is why its realization is a joint project. For inclusion to become a reality, everybody needs to be involved in removing barriers and creating equal participation for everyone.

Since April 2022, Sarah Köpke-Lierz has been the inclusion officer for the city of Monheim am Rhein.

Her various tasks include, for example:

• Municipal representation of the interests of people with disabilities in the city of Monheim am Rhein
• Advice on inclusion issues and accessibility within the city administration and for the citizens
• Issuing statements on municipal building projects in accordance with §72 Par. 7 BauO NRW (Building Code of North Rhine-Westphalia)
• Expanding the accessibility of municipal services and municipal communication through "Leichte Sprache" (easy-to-use language variety of German)
• Further development and implementation of the "Monheim inclusive" action plan
• Supporting and implementing of inclusion projects in Monheim am Rhein, for example through the miniature project exchange and the inclusion day

As of summer 2018, Inclusion Bikes can be rented at the Rheinbogen tourist information. The city funded the purchase of the bikes with 40.000 euros.

The bikes are called "Fun to go Parallel Tandems". They have an e-bike motor and are exclusively driven and steered by the rider on the front left seat. Three additional persons can also pedal or simply rest their feet safely on a platform. To provide easier access, the seats can be rotated, and all seats have hip belts.

The bicycles are particularly suitable for small bike tours with people with limited mobility. When renting the bikes, priority is given to the city's senior citizen facilities. If the bikes are not reserved, they are also available to families, clubs or groups of friends.

The rental costs for the Inclusions Bikes amount to 30 Euros per afternoon for private users, 15 Euros for senior citizen homes. After a short briefing, everybody can use the bikes. If you want to rent an Inclusion Bike, please book it in advance at Giebner pedal-go-cart, bicycle and e-bike hire: Phone: +49 (172) 2410332, Email: roland.giebner@t-online.de.

In 2015, the City Council of Monheim am Rhein unanimously adopted the "Monheim inklusiv" action plan.

The action plan is the next milestone on Monheim's journey towards becoming a "City for everyone". Results from seven working groups, consisting of numerous Council members and many residents of Monheim who volunteered to play an active role and contributed with their ideas, have been included in the plan. Several measures from the action plan have already been put into practice. As a result, the city of Monheim am Rhein takes a pioneering role in the field of inclusion.