In recent years, a strong pro-cycling movement has begun to emerge among society, also inspired by international examples and European initiatives. One prominent expression of this is the recently adopted European Declaration on Cycling against which Germany also now wishes to gauge its progress.
Countless projects and programmes share the common goal of encouraging more and better cycling on safe, appealing infrastructure with the aim of making Germany a cycling nation by 2030. Particularly successful government-financed schemes include the programme to fund cycling infrastructure (Cities and States), the information centre that advises municipalities on bicycle parking at railway stations (
Infostelle Fahrradparken an Bahnhöfen) and the project fostering climate action through cycling-related initiatives (
Klimaschutz durch Radverkehr).
Smart bike parking system were recently installed in several stations, such as in Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt.
Encouraging people to cycle more is crucial to the mobility transition and the creation of liveable cities and key to climate protection. It is also for this reason that the commitment to more and safer cycling in Germany continues to grow every year – as the steady rise in the ADFC’s membership figures and the cycling referendums in many German cities clearly show.
The seven newly created cycling professorships financed by the BMDV lay further foundations for expansion of the cycling infrastructure. In addition to research into cycling-related issues, universities are training the urgently needed specialists for the transport and urban planning of tomorrow.
Germany is already a leader in other areas – it is the #1 destination for cycling holidays, for instance. Last year, more than 455 million day trips were completed during which almost €14 billion were spent.
E-bikes are also popular among Germans: In 2023, more e-bikes were sold in Germany than bicycles for the first time – almost 2.1 million units in total. The successful company bike initiative is just one positive influence here. More than two million employees have already benefited from the leasing scheme since its introduction.
Want to learn more about German Cycling Embassy's promoting change towards a cycling country ?
Join Anke Schäffner, Chief Policy Officer at ZIV - German Bicycle Industry on behalf of the German Cycling Embassy, on Wednesday 19 June at 10:30, as she details how after several decades of stagnation, a strong social movement for more cycling has developed in Germany, inspired by international examples.