Hanover in second place: most bike-friendly city in Germany!

Hanover in second place: most bike-friendly city in Germany!

In the latest ADFC survey, Hanover presented itself as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Germany, and this is no coincidence. With a solid second place finish in the nationwide bicycle climate test, just behind Frankfurt and ahead of Bremen, the capital of Lower Saxony shows that it is on the right track. Radio Hannover reports that the survey is conducted every two years and focuses on the well-being and safety of cyclists. Overall, Hannover received a mean rating of 3.5, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of cycling infrastructure.

What makes Hanover stand out? The accessibility of the city center, the possibility of taking bicycles on public transport and the opening of one-way streets in the opposite direction are just some of the positive aspects that were praised by cyclists. But there are also downsides: the growing concern about the width of the cycle paths and criticism expressed at construction sites as well as the problem of illegal parking controls on cycle paths are weighing on the evaluation. According to the ADFC, 70 percent of those surveyed in the bicycle climate test stated that they felt more at risk than safe in road traffic.

Bicycle climate test and its importance

The survey took place between September and November 2024 and included well over 184,500 questionnaires, providing cities with detailed feedback on cycling friendliness. This is one of the largest surveys on the cycling climate worldwide, which is important not only in Germany but also internationally. Frank Masurat, the federal chairman of the ADFC, recommends separate guidance for cycling on main and country roads in order to address the safety issue and increase cyclist satisfaction. The current results were published in spring 2025 and are a valuable basis for transport planners and political decision-makers.

Comparison to other cities

Compared to other large cities, 10 out of 15 cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants managed to improve significantly. Frankfurt am Main tops the list with a rating of 3.49, while Münster and Erlangen also received positive reviews. In regions such as Nuremberg, improvements have been made through new, bicycle-friendly measures, which the city particularly highlights. In Berlin, Düsseldorf and Essen, however, the balance is not so rosy - the ratings there have deteriorated, which is due to a lack of cycling promotion measures.

Although Hannover does well in many respects, there is still a certain amount of catching up to do. The information and feedback from the survey could help the city further optimize the cycling infrastructure and make bike-friendliness a priority. After all, according to the survey participants, safe and pleasant cycling is an important aspect of the quality of life in the city.