Bremen shines in the ADFC bicycle climate test: third place for cyclists!

Bremen shines in the ADFC bicycle climate test: third place for cyclists!

Bremen presented itself from its best side in this year's ADFC "Bicycle Climate Test" and took third place in Germany with a grade of 3.54. Behind Frankfurt am Main (1st place, grade 3.49) and Hanover (2nd place, grade 3.52), this evaluation shows that the city is on the right track when it comes to offering cyclists a pleasant environment. Over 200,000 cyclists took part in the digital survey and provided valuable feedback that can be used to improve cycling in cities, as fahrradklima-test.adfc.de highlights.

Despite the positive development, there are some points of criticism that still need to be addressed. Particularly significant is the frequent disregard for cycle paths by illegal parkers, which was given a poor grade of 5. In addition, the high number of bicycle thefts, with only Berlin and Leipzig having more bikes stolen, and the inadequate clearance rate are weak points in the balance sheet. Furthermore, the cycling infrastructure in Bremen is perceived as overloaded because the expansion of premium cycle routes is making slow progress, according to buten un binnen and dpa.

Positive aspects of Bremen's cycling infrastructure

Despite the challenges, Bremen is clearly being praised for its strengths. The quick accessibility of the city center and the rapid cycling traffic left a positive impression on those surveyed. This shows that although the structures need improvement in terms of expansion and safety, many citizens are still enthusiastic about their city.

A look at Bremerhaven shows a pleasing trend: the port city struggled at the top of the negative rankings in the past, but has now worked its way into the lower midfield compared to other small cities. This proves that efforts to create a better cycling climate are bearing fruit not only in Bremen, but also in neighboring cities.

The next bike climate test

The ADFC continues to test bike friendliness in Germany. The next “bicycle climate test” starts on September 1, 2024 and is taking place for the eleventh time. Participants can share their experiences until November 30, 2024, and 27 questions are available on topics such as safety and coexistence in traffic. The collected data will be published in spring 2025. These surveys are not only important for transport planners, but also for those responsible for politics - a direct line to the needs of cyclists, as the ADFC press release makes clear.

Overall, the results show that Bremen is on the right track to support its cyclists with friendlier and safer infrastructure. However, there is still a lot to be done to offer cyclists in the city an ideal environment.