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The bicycle is the perfect means of significantly counteracting climate change. According to transport policy makers, the means of transport can be of great importance. They believe that cycling, if it replaces car use, can have a lasting impact on national and international climate policy. According to estimates, around 15% of air pollutants and greenhouse gases can be reduced in cities if the cycling mode share is increased by ten percentage points at the expense of cars. The correct use of bicycles can save at least a third of traffic emissions in the local area. To this end, the ‘National Transport Infrastructure Plan 3.0’ climate concept was developed, influenced in part by cycling behaviour in other countries. By 2023, it could be possible to save three to four million tonnes of CO2 if the switch to bicycles is appropriately encouraged.

 

Bicycle use in Germany currently stands at around 13%, although there are of course differences between cities and municipalities. Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, is a very well-known cycling city and is well ahead in the race with 47%. The rate is also much higher in other much more bicycle-friendly states. The Netherlands and Belgium, for example, have a percentage of 40%. However, Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, is leading the way. At rush hour in the morning, there are actually five times more two-wheelers on the road than cars. Some of them are lined up in rows of two or three at traffic lights or other waiting points in the traffic. Just two hand signals are important for travelling safely in the cycling capital. Extending your arm to indicate the direction in which you want to cycle and raising your arm to indicate stopping or slowing down. The really big difference to other cities, however, lies in the infrastructure that has been designed for cycling. The lanes for cyclists are wide and clearly marked. In addition, great importance is attached to ensuring that cyclists can continue their journey as seamlessly as possible without having to stop. This is probably why most Danes choose to cycle as a means of transport, because it is simply quicker. The state is also planning a cycle highway, similar to the ‘Ruhrschnellweg’ in Germany, which is far from being completed. By 2025, the ‘Supercykelstier’ are to provide a network of more than 400 kilometres of paths outside the city centre. And this is precisely the reason why every second Copenhagener prefers to cycle.

Germans, on the other hand, generally only use their bikes for short journeys or because it is easier to reach their destination this way. The average distance they cover with pure muscle power or now also with electric assistance is just four kilometres.

However, the aforementioned standards in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium are precisely the reason why less use is made of bicycles in Germany. People here do not feel safe using this means of transport. 80% of those surveyed in the bicycle climate test by the “Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club” stated that they wanted to cycle ‘separately’ from driving. They want to be able to use a separate cycle lane to ensure a better ride. Far too often the safety distance of 1,5 m is not maintained, risky overtaking manoeuvres are dared or they are simply overlooked. It is difficult to rebuild existing road courses in such a way that this safety distance, which also corresponds to other countries, is guaranteed. Nevertheless, a compromise solution must be found at this point in order to promote cycle tourism. What is needed, however, are the financial resources, which are inadequate. Above all, however, it is important that a dense network is created overall, just as Denmark will implement the plans with the ‘Supercykelstier’. However, even these projects are only progressing slowly in Germany, as previously mentioned with regard to the ‘Ruhrschnellweg’ motorway.

 

Overall, it can be said that the use of bicycles can have a very big impact on the climate, especially if the majority of people really do leave their cars at home and switch to bicycles. For this to happen, however, the appropriate framework conditions must be put in place in Germany so that the population can be addressed and their needs catered for.

 

Source: Pixabay/bicycle-path-830216_1280