German Conference Calls For Stronger National Bicycle Plan

BERLIN, German – The transport potential of cycling in Germany is still underestimated. Cycling is a mega trend, fits in our time and might help to solve many issues in today’s society like traffic jams as well as environmental and health problems. This was concluded in the final manifesto adopted by the participants of the Vivavelo Conference which took place last February 22 – 23 in the German capital Berlin.

In this manifesto the participants also point out the importance of the existing National Bicycle Transportation Plan. It is a positive impulse for cycling, which must be strengthened. Therefore the bicycle industry calls for an update of the National Bicycle Transportation Plan from 2012 with clear and quantitative targets. The main goal should be a growing use of the bicycle for transportation from 10% today to 25% in 2020 by savings in short urban trips made by car.

The manifesto also calls for the provision of adequate federal funding for municipal investments and campaigns to promote cycling as well as expansion of the pilots and project within the National Bicycle Transportation Plan. This requires an increase in federal funding for bicycle traffic from € 100 million in 2009 to € 1 billion per year in the future. The measures to promote cycling should be included in the climate protection goals of the federal government.

A major part of these funds should be applied to make a qualitative leap in bicycle infrastructure. According to the Vivavelo Conference the existing infrastructure is no longer sufficient. Cyclists need wider and safer roads. The risk of an accident while cycling in Germany is too high and retains people from cycling. A legal framework improves road safety for cyclists. In the past years several improvements in the High-way code have been made which are welcomed by the conference. The public still has to be informed effectively to the changing conditions.