Berlin's cycling climate is disappointing: only 12th place in the ADFC ranking!

Berlin's cycling climate is disappointing: only 12th place in the ADFC ranking!

Bicycle-friendliness in Germany remains a hot topic. The current ADFC bicycle climate test shows depressing figures for the capital Berlin: With a grade of 4.3, the city ranks 12th out of 15 in a ranking that includes cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants. That is three places less than in the previous survey. This was reported by the Daily Mirror, which summarized the results from September 1 to November 30, 2024. Over 200,000 cyclists in Germany, including around 7,500 from Berlin, took part in the survey and shared their experiences.

The survey showed that 88 percent of Berlin cyclists feel unsafe and 92 percent report frequent conflicts with car traffic. Eberhard Brodhage, chairman of the ADFC Berlin, describes the city's transport policy as a "statement of poverty". Without a change of course in promoting cycling, the ADFC warns that this negative development will continue.

Infrastructure and opportunities for improvement

What's interesting is that the bike climate test is not just a gloomy look at the cycling-friendly conditions in the capital, but also offers suggestions for improvements. As part of the test, participants were able to give their assessments of the local conditions. This feedback is of great importance for transport planners and political leaders in order to specifically improve the infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the best places in the ADFC ranking are occupied by Frankfurt am Main, Hanover and Bremen, which shine with scores of around 3.5. With a grade of 3.8, Potsdam ranks 11th out of 42 cities with between 100,000 and 200,000 inhabitants, while Brandenburg an der Havel ranks 56th out of 113 cities with between 50,000 and 100,000 inhabitants with a score of 4.0. Schwedt, on the other hand, can look forward to fifth place among 245 cities with between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants with a grade of 2.9.

Bicycle-friendliness in metropolises

The ADFC bicycle climate test is the largest survey of cyclist satisfaction worldwide, carried out every two years. The 2022 test showed that metropolises offer a better cycling climate overall: Bremen is the clear leader here. However, satisfaction with cycle paths is modest - 80 percent of those surveyed find them too narrow and 70 percent feel unsafe while cycling. In addition, 72 percent are dissatisfied with the control of illegal parking on cycle paths.

The results from the bicycle climate test can help to evaluate the success of promoting cycling locally. According to the ADFC, it is essential to expand and promote cycling infrastructure in order to achieve sustainable change. The test is supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport, which emphasizes that cycling is very important and provides appropriate support measures.

Overall, the call for better conditions and safer cycle paths remains loud. The survey, which took place for the eleventh time in 2024, offers a clear view of the needs and wishes of cyclists in Germany and is therefore a valuable tool for future transport planning. Those interested can find further information and the complete results of the test on the website ADFC.