Berlin, Germany – A recent survey by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC) has revealed a slight improvement in the satisfaction of cyclists in Germany. The survey, which assessed the cycling climate in 15 major cities with over 500,000 inhabitants, showed that ten of the cities have made significant progress in the eyes of their cyclists.
Cities like Nuremberg and Frankfurt have made notable improvements, with Nuremberg praised for its good acceptance of cyclists in traffic, modern traffic light systems and high-quality new bike paths. Frankfurt, on the other hand, has seen the installation of many new bike paths, protected bike lanes, bike streets and pedestrianized side streets, as well as the establishment of numerous new bike racks and a well-signposted bike network.
However, cities like Düsseldorf, Essen and Berlin have been criticized by cyclists for a lack of cycling support in recent times. Despite the positive developments, many cyclists still face problems, such as narrow or congested bike paths and a staggering 70% of respondents felt unsafe while cycling in the street.
“In almost all major cities, investments in cycling infrastructure, such as wide and safe bike paths, bike bridges and bike parking spaces, immediately lead to greater satisfaction among cyclists” said ADFC chief Frank Masurat. Even hilly cities like Tübingen and Auerbach in Vogtland have managed to become more cyclist-friendly by consistently expanding their bike network and the growing popularity of e-bikes.
Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder, emphasized the need for continued efforts from all parties involved, not just in major cities but also in smaller towns and rural areas, to achieve greater cycling satisfaction.