Erfurt introduces new minimum distance rule for cyclists!

Erfurt introduces new minimum distance rule for cyclists!

In Erfurt, safety for cyclists is very important. From now on, new information boards point out the legally required minimum distance of 1.5 meters, which must be strictly adhered to when overtaking cyclists. This initiative is part of a comprehensive campaign supported throughout Thuringia by various organizations, including the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) and the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD). The aim is to raise awareness of this safety distance and thus improve the safety of cyclists Thuringia24.

Sophie Seher from ADFC Thuringia emphasizes that a safe distance not only benefits cyclists, but also eases the traffic situation for drivers. The city of Erfurt is now planning to carry out increased controls to monitor this minimum distance. Dirk Büschke, the city's cycling officer, emphasizes the need for controls and possible sanctions in order to sustainably anchor awareness of the minimum distance.

Minimum distance even when overtaking pedestrians

But where does the requirement of 1.5 meters in urban areas and even 2 meters outside of urban areas actually come from? There's a good reason for this: cyclists are often at risk from uneven roads, crosswinds or unpredictable commutes. An appropriate distance allows you to safely avoid possible obstacles such as potholes and avoid suction caused by wind. This safety rule not only applies to cyclists, but must also be observed when overtaking pedestrians and e-scooter riders, who carry a higher risk due to their lack of protective covering, as shown on the website ADFC can be read.

But how important this distance is in practice is shown by a legal dispute that broke out between two cyclists. Here one cyclist was riding on a cycle path while the other came out of a driveway and suddenly changed direction. The accident worsened the situation for the first cyclist, who was injured and had to be taken to hospital and then sued for compensation. The OLG Oldenburg decided that there is no general distance to be maintained when overtaking cyclists, but that the circumstances of the individual case are decisive. In this case, the court found that the plaintiff was partly to blame because he too should have noticed the other driver's insecurity.

These examples illustrate why maintaining the minimum distance is so crucial, especially in the city. Erfurt therefore relies on education and control to enable both cyclists and car drivers to interact safely on the roads.