Hamburg's cycling climate in decline: only 7th place in the big test!

Hamburg's cycling climate in decline: only 7th place in the big test!

Bicycle-friendliness in German cities is a hotly debated 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 rankings with a grade of 3.49 and shows how things can be different. In addition to him, Hanover, Bremen, Leipzig, Munich and Dresden are other positive examples on the podium. In the deepest valley, however, lies Duisburg with a modest grade of 4.46. This information was compiled by n-tv.

The survey, conducted from September to November 2024, included 184,500 completed questionnaires from 1,047 locations and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Organized in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Transport, the test offers all participants the opportunity to rate the bike-friendliness in their cities. The aim is to provide real-life feedback for traffic planners and political leaders in order to improve conditions for cyclists. The results will be published in spring 2025, but the need for change is already being highlighted, especially regarding safety conditions for cyclists in Hamburg.

Hamburg's strengths and weaknesses

Although Hamburg lags behind many other cities in the overall rating, there are also positive aspects. The options for taking bicycles on public transport and the existing bicycle rental systems are positively highlighted. But despite these strengths, many respondents in Hamburg see a need for action. According to Cajus Pruin from ADFC Hamburg, 58% of cyclists find cycling stressful, mainly due to safety concerns. The survey also shows that there are clear differences in assessments between the city center and the outskirts, with the latter often scoring poorly.

The critical assessment primarily concerns the cycling conditions in the peripheral areas, which have been the subject of repeated discussion in recent years. The ADFC sees progress, but emphasizes that this is not enough to achieve a sustainable transport transition. Winter maintenance on cycle 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 comparative values. Cities like Nuremberg have made significant improvements in bike-friendliness, including through better traffic lights and new bike paths. The general uncertainty in road traffic is reflected in the data: 70% of cyclists feel unsafe. 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 to all cities, large and small. The test helps to make the success of promoting cycling measurable and to evaluate poverty policy measures to improve infrastructure. Further information about the results can be found on the ADFC website.

Overall, the ADFC Bicycle Climate Test 2024 shows that there is a long way to go to make cycling in Germany more pleasant and safe. More than half of cyclists still do not feel comfortable, which highlights the challenge for everyone working in transport policy. After all, the test is a proven means of initiating and implementing improvements.