Rebecca Peters, Vice-Chairwoman of the ADFC cycling club, comments on the results of the ADFC Cycling Climate Test 2020 as follows:
Let's start with the positives: In Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf Since the coronavirus pandemic, cyclists have been taking Tangible signals for more bicycle friendliness true. We agree: some major cities have seriously set out to create more space for cycling and continuous cycle path networks - and have also entered into conflicts with car traffic stakeholders to do so.
Karlsruhe, Wiesbaden and Kiel have also persistently worked on their bicycle friendliness over the last two years. It's good that these cities prove that the expansion of cycle paths doesn't have to take decades, but can also be done quickly. Even if the cycling feeling in none of these cities is perfect yet, people are already grateful for gradual improvements. Please keep up the good work! Take courage from the positive feedback from cyclists - and draw on funding from the federal government's special urban and rural programme.
"Unfortunately, this is where the good news ends, because the expectations of cyclists in over 1,000 other cities were disappointed. Cyclists' satisfaction is once again only rated at 3.9, which is bitter. An alarming 69 per cent of respondents do not feel safe when cycling. 75 per cent criticise over-parked cycle paths. And a full 80 per cent say that the cycle paths are too narrow. That can't let us rest.
Opportunities of the pandemic missed
Most respondents are really frustrated by the lack of improvements since the corona pandemic: across all size categories, they give a devastating score of 5.0. Most German cities have therefore not used the cycling boom as an opportunity to accelerate the transformation of the streets, as has happened in many other places around the world."
"More and more people are eagerly awaiting better conditions for cycling. The number of participants increases in every ADFC Cycling Climate Test, and more and more cities are being ranked. And yet the expansion of cycle path networks is making little progress. As harsh as that sounds: Corona has brought a wave of media coverage about cycling - and huge increases in sales for the bicycle trade. But cyclists are still not seeing any real improvements on the road, apart from a few bright spots.
Dear cities and municipalities: The cycling boom is here to stay - we urgently need more speed in the expansion of the cycle network, more courage to find effective solutions quickly and more enthusiasm for change!"
Bicycle friendly in a short time
"How can my city become more bike-friendly in a short space of time? We are often asked this question. Of course, a clear political will to prioritise cycling is important. Then things can move quickly: There are many tried-and-tested rapid construction measures to create more space and protection for cycling in a relatively uncomplicated way.
- These include so-called protected bikelanes, i.e. protected cycle lanes that are set up on main roads. If things have to happen very quickly, they can be prepared as a pop-up version, as Berlin and Munich did last year.
- But cycle lanes can also be built relatively quickly and effectively if measures are taken against through traffic at the same time.
- Residential streets can easily be made traffic-calming with flower pots (so-called "modal filters").
- Bicycle parking spaces are always a bottleneck. A city can quickly remedy this with rentable bicycle boxes.
- An urban bike hire scheme will also get more people on bikes.
- A police bicycle patrol and consistent penalties for parking offences on cycle paths work wonders.
- And last but not least, incentive systems can help: Subsidies for cargo bikes or a bonus system for kilometres cycled.
- If the transport administration does not yet have a concept for a coherent cycle path network, an ADFC mapathon can be organised. Cyclists can sketch out their dream cycle route network themselves. There are plenty of smart ideas - you just have to want to do it!
Municipalities have a responsibility
But the responsibility for a bicycle-friendly Germany does not lie solely with the municipalities. The federal and state governments must also step on the pedals. The federal government must stabilise funding at a high level and fundamentally reform traffic law and technical regulations. So far, they have been completely one-sidedly focussed on the requirements of car traffic and prevent good cycling. At state level, we need modern mobility laws like those in Berlin.
Municipal cycle paths must be linked together across city boundaries to form comprehensive cycle path networks. And the federal states must act as drivers and transmission belts in order to swiftly and purposefully implement the federal funding from the climate package in municipal quality cycle paths. With its advice centres and model solutions, Hesse is an example of how it can be done.
