Do you wish you lived in a cycling country like Switzerland or the Netherlands?
While you may still have a long dream, Germany is becoming more bicycle-friendly every year. As the number of cyclists in urban areas continues to soar. Former Chancellor Merkel even announced a 10-point plan to create safer roads for cyclists, a mobility change for Germany.
But is Germany a cycling country yet? No, not yet, but they may be heading in that direction with electronic speed.
A comparison of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland as a cycling country
The Netherlands is recognized worldwide as a leading cycling-friendly country. There are an estimated 25 million bikes in the Netherlands. With a population of 17 million, there are more bikes than people in the Netherlands.
99% of the Dutch population are cyclists. This bike frenzy went through peaks and valleys in Dutch history. Eventually, routes were designed to accommodate bikes throughout the country.
Switzerland too has strong cycling infrastructure. The country makes cycling more convenient than driving, so citizens naturally adopt it.
There are more bike parking spots than car spots in Switzerland. Cyclists are incentivized by convenience. There is also an abundance of bike paths and shared roads that make the habit of cycling easy in Switzerland.
The Swiss railway has set up large parking and hanging areas for bicycles – a plus point compared to Germany, where bicycle compartments are still quite cramped.
Germany compared to the rest of the world is much more advanced in biking. When fared to the Netherlands and Switzerland, Germany is somewhat behind.
Instead of having designated bike lanes in certain areas, the German government has cut costs by combining bike lanes and sidewalks. This is a problem for cyclists.
They have to worry about strolling pedestrians- especially tourists.
Bike routes are not as safe in Germany as in the Netherlands and Switzerland. This scares less experienced riders away.
Examining Germany’s progress in becoming a more cyclist-friendly nation
Germany is in the process of evolving from a car country to a bicycle country. Germany’s main cycling infrastructure was established in the early 90s. There are six major bike routes throughout Germany with beautiful scenery.
- The Elbe Cycle Path (Elberadweg) – 894 kilometres, Germany’s most popular route
- The River Main Cycle Route (MainRadweg)- nature-lovers route, this 557-kilometre route is one of the most popular river paths
- The Moselle Cycle Route (Moselradweg) – the 248-kilometre path is far removed from car traffic and goes through vineyards, you can exit to one of the many cafes en route
- The Danube Cycle Path (Donau-Radweg) – route stretches 600 kilometres in Germany but actually travels Europe’s second-longest river, it is so long it can be travelled as a cross-border highway
- Rhine Cycle Route (Rhein-Radweg) – travels through Germany, France and Switzerland, travels through an industrial area, and historic vineyards all the way to the seaside
- The Baltic Sea Cycle Route (Ostseeküsten-Radweg) – a lovely seaside route
Some of these routes offer a great view and exercise. Some of these routes are used for transportation.
Despite the six routes mentioned above, Germany plans to expand its inner-city bike routes to eliminate the need for an automobile for some commuters. We discuss these changes more in the next section.
Why Germany is struggling to catch up
Amsterdam is designed to be a cycling city. Almost every route has a cycling lane. The city takes steps to promote cycling and the Dutch themselves prefer it.
It is so popular because it is made convenient and championed as better for the planet and people. Amsterdam has parking lots dedicated to bikes. And trains are made extra spacious so cyclers can board their bikes.
Take a look yourself by visiting our Amsterdam showroom.
Zurich, like Amsterdam, has a cycling infrastructure more advanced than Germany. They have created extra-large bike storage in the trains. Zurich has also made charging stations on the highways for e-bikes.
There has been an adoption of e-bikes in the Swiss mountains due to this convenience. Our Zurich showroom is located at Badenerstr. 60, Zurich, 8004, CH.
The uphill battle facing Germany in its quest to become a top cycling country
The main caveat with Germany becoming a cycling country is government spending. The German government spends five euros per person annually on bike routes. European counterparts like Amsterdam and Zurich spend multiple times that amount.
Although cyclists account for thirteen to fifteen percent of daily traffic, the roads tell another story. Even with the abundance of bike routes mentioned above German bike routes only account for 3% of street space.
Automobiles have about 60%.
But with the Radverkehrplan, discussed below, the German government is making strides toward becoming more accommodating to cyclists. The slowdown in progress is mainly caused by the protests between cyclists and drivers over who deserves more space.
Will Berlin really become a leading cycling city?
Berlin is currently ranked the 15th best city worldwide for cycling. But that number might improve very soon with Radverkehrplan, Berlin’s infrastructure plan for the next few years.
Radverkehrplan will bring an additional 3,000 kilometres of cycling transportation. This is building upon the existing 1,5000 kilometres that exist. The plan was announced on September 7th of 2021 and will take a few years to complete. Radverkehrplan will be divided into three main phases:
- 865-kilometres priority routes connected to the most accessible traffic connections
- 1506-kilometre secondary route network
- 550-kilometre extensions to main roads that do not currently support cycling
Current metrics reveal that Berlin clocks nearly 500,000 rides daily, accounting for almost 13% of traffic. The new infrastructure will double cycling accessibility so these numbers are also expected to double. Berlin hopes to have the same recognition as a cycling city like Amsterdam.
If you’re in Berlin, feel free to drop by our Berlin showroom and test out the new Ampler e-bikes for some easy-going sightseeing in the city center.
Mobility Change: The cycling future of Germany
Germany is still a great cycling county even if it is not as developed as Amsterdam, Netherlands, or Zurich, Switzerland in terms of cycling. The Copenhagenize index ranks the top biking cities worldwide.
Without even implementing any changes, Germany has three cities ranked in the top 20. Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen. As Germany continues with the Radverkehrsplan, it will shift a mobility change to become more cycling-friendly.