Göttingen relies on cycling: e-bike highways and cargo bikes are booming!

Göttingen relies on cycling: e-bike highways and cargo bikes are booming!

In recent years, cycling has become significantly more important in German cities, and this is not only reflected in the increasing sales figures for bicycles. Cargo bikes are currently becoming the most popular transport method in urban areas as an environmentally friendly alternative to cars. The Federal Ministry of Transport reports that around 2% of people in Germany currently use a cargo bike, and the potential is far from being exhausted.

With a look at innovative solutions in cycling, as reported by HNA, Dr. Jana Kühl has set a milestone as the first professor of bicycle traffic management in Germany at the Ostfalia University in Salzgitter. Their focus is on how to adapt the infrastructure to the needs of cyclists. There are currently a total of seven professorships on this topic in Germany, which indicates the growing interest in more bike-friendly mobility.

Innovative projects and wheel decisions

A successful example of promoting cycling is the pilot project in Göttingen, where e-cycle highways were implemented. These wide, blue-marked routes are extremely popular with cyclists and have even won awards for their bike-friendliness. In addition, initiatives such as the cycling decision in Göttingen aim to further improve safety and infrastructure for cyclists.

While cycling is becoming increasingly politically important in other cities such as Hanover, there are mixed reactions in Lower Saxony. In some cities, the purchase of cargo bikes is encouraged, while municipal funding programs are declining nationwide. According to Alexander Lutz from “cargobike.jetzt”, negative sentiment towards cargo bikes on social media unsettles both potential users and municipalities who are less interested in supporting these sustainable means of transport.

Cargo bikes: A look into the future

Cargo bikes are also legally classified as bicycles and must therefore meet the same safety requirements. The Ministry of Transport has introduced a special traffic sign for cargo bicycles by amending the StVO 2020. Various projects, including TINK and ALADIN, are currently supporting the development of a municipal network for cargo bikes and user-friendly parking facilities. For example, companies like Fraunhofer IML can look for solutions that make the use of cargo bikes in urban logistics easier.

In addition to funding from the federal and state governments, cargo bikes are also very popular in the private sector, especially for transporting children. There are numerous initiatives around these means of transport to increase their use. Current forecasts show that parcel shipments in urban areas could increase from 3.65 billion in 2019 to up to 9 billion in 2028 - a development that makes cargo bikes even more important as an environmentally friendly solution.

The increasing numbers, which assume that over a million cargo bikes will be sold by the end of 2024, confirm the trend. These vehicles, often equipped with electric pedal assistance, are in constant demand. The projects to further develop the cycling infrastructure, such as ENTLASTA or RadLast, could make a decisive contribution to solving current problems such as inadequate parking options. One thing is certain: in order to sustainably promote cycling, cities and communities must develop adequate infrastructure - because environmentally friendly mobility needs space!