Hamburg's bicycle climate in the descent: only 7th place in the big test!

Hamburg's bicycle climate in the descent: only 7th place in the big test!

Hamburg, Deutschland - Bicycle friendliness in German cities is a hotly discussed topic, especially in large cities like Hamburg. The current ADFC bicycle climate test shows that Hamburg is in the middle of the 15 largest cities with over 500,000 inhabitants. With a grade of 3.96, the Hanseatic city reached seventh place. Frankfurt am Main leads the ranking with a grade of 3.49 and shows how things can be done differently. Next to him are Hanover, Bremen, Leipzig, Munich and Dresden as other positive examples on the podium. In the deepest valley, however, Duisburg lies with a modest grade of 4.46. This information has compiled the n-tv.

The survey carried out from September to November 2024 comprised 184,500 completed questionnaires from 1,047 places and is one of the largest of its kind worldwide. Organized in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Transport, the test offers all participants: inside the opportunity to evaluate bicycle friendliness in their cities. The aim is to give life -related feedback for traffic planners: inside and political managers in order to improve the conditions for cyclists. The results will be released in spring 2025, but the need for change is already pointed out, especially with regard to the security conditions for cyclists: inside in Hamburg.

Hamburg's strengths and weaknesses

Although Hamburg lies behind many other cities in the overall grade, there are also gratifying aspects. The possibilities of taking bicycle in public transport and the existing bike rental systems are highlighted positively. But despite these strengths, many respondents in Hamburg see a need for action. According to Cajus Pruin from the ADFC Hamburg, 58% of cyclists find cycling as stressful, which is mainly due to security concerns. The survey also shows that there are clear differences in the assessment between the city center and the outdoor districts, the latter often cut off badly.

The critical assessment primarily affects the bicycle traffic conditions in the outskirts, which have been discussed again and again in recent years. The ADFC sees progress, but emphasizes that they are not enough to achieve a sustainable turnaround. The winter service on bike paths is also mentioned as another weak point that urgently needs to be improved.

A look at other cities

The analysis of the ADFC bicycle climate test not only shows Hamburg's position, but also provides interesting comparison values. Cities like Nuremberg have achieved significant improvements in bicycle friendliness, including through better traffic light circuits and new cycle paths. The general uncertainty in road traffic is reflected in the data: 70% of cyclists feel insecure. This makes it clear that there is still a need for action everywhere in Germany.

The results from the survey will be of enormous importance for all cities, whether large or small. The test helps to make the success of the cycling promotion measurable and to evaluate poverty policy measures to improve the infrastructure. Further information on the results can be viewed on the ADFC website.

Overall, the ADFC bicycle climate test 2024 shows that there is a long way to make cycling in Germany more comfortable and safer. More than half of the cyclists do not feel comfortable, which makes the challenge clear for everyone who works in the area of ​​transport policy. After all, the test has a proven means of toasting and implementing improvements.