Stade and Buxtehude disappoint in the ADFC bicycle climate test 2024!

Stade and Buxtehude disappoint in the ADFC bicycle climate test 2024!

In a comprehensive survey of bike-friendliness in Germany, Stade and Buxtehude achieved mixed results. The Kreiszeitung Wochenblatt reports that both cities fell well short of expectations in the 2024 ADFC bicycle climate test. While Stade takes 346th place out of 429 cities in the category of 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, Buxtehude is even worse at 381st place.

Overall, cyclists rate the situation in Stade with an average grade of 4.2, which is just below the level of “sufficient”. The ratings for the cycle paths are particularly crucial with a grade of 4.7. Here, citizens primarily complain about the width, condition and lack of cleaning of the paths. The grade of 5.0 for the traffic light switching for cyclists, which has proven to be very poor, is considered particularly catastrophic.

Results and reviews

Buxtehude also has no reason to be happy with an overall grade of 4.34. Here, the safety of cyclists performs particularly poorly and receives a grade of 4.6, while the comfort rating also shows a mixed result at 4.7. The traffic light switching and the management of construction sites each received a poor grade of 5.2. Passers-by rate cycling by young and old with a grade of 2.9, which at least shows a certain hope.

• Stade: Platz 346, Durchschnittsnote 4,2
• Radwege: Note 4,7
• Ampelschaltungen: Note 5,0
• Erreichbarkeit Stadtzentrum: Note 2,8
• Öffnung von Einbahnstraßen: Note 3,4
• Wegweisung: Note 3,6

• Buxtehude: Platz 381, Gesamtnote 4,34
• Sicherheitsaspekte: Note 4,6
• Komfort: Note 4,7
• Ampelschaltungen: Note 5,2
• Erreichbarkeit des Zentrums: Note 3,0

The survey, which was carried out between September and November 2024, was able to mobilize more than 213,000 cyclists nationwide, including 161 from Stade, to record satisfaction with cycling conditions. The ADFC website offers an interactive map and reviews the results of the survey.

Demands of the ADFC

Against the background of these critical assessments, the ADFC Stade calls for a consistent continuation of the promotion of cycling. The focus is on sensible measures such as expanding the cycling infrastructure, illegal parking controls and more 30 km/h zones as well as cycle-friendly traffic lights. These changes could be crucial to improving cycling conditions in both cities.

The ADFC emphasizes that although the cycling climate in Germany has improved minimally overall, the situation in the smaller municipalities remains unsatisfactory. Cities like Tübingen show how targeted investments in infrastructure can increase cyclist satisfaction. Information on how to improve cycling traffic comes from the feedback from those surveyed and is intended to prompt traffic planners and political leaders to take action.

The inadequate services in Stade and Buxtehude are therefore not only a wake-up call for those responsible, but also for citizens, who should work together for better conditions.