Oberhausen in the bicycle climate test: 22nd place out of 25! Where is the problem?

Oberhausen in the bicycle climate test: 22nd place out of 25! Where is the problem?

Oberhausen currently has ADFC bicycle climate test received a school grade of 4.31, placing it in 22nd place out of a total of 25 cities in the category of 200,000 to 500,000 inhabitants. This rating has not changed compared to the 2022 survey. Over 600 cyclists from Oberhausen took part in the survey, the results of which will be published in spring 2025.

The survey, which took place between September and November 2024, shows that 213,000 cyclists nationwide gave their opinion on cycling infrastructure. On average, 70 percent of participants feel rather unsafe in road traffic. Traffic management at construction sites and the control of illegal parking on cycle paths, for which the grade 5 was given, are particularly critical.

Positive aspects and challenges

Despite the overall negative review, there are also positive aspects. In Oberhausen, numerous one-way streets are open to cyclists in the opposite direction, and rental bicycles are available. However, the main problem is the poor infrastructure. Cycle paths that are too narrow or parked as well as inadequate safety distances for car and truck drivers when overtaking are highlighted by cyclists as serious deficiencies.

As the daily news reported, cyclists in Germany are calling for a clear separation of cycling from motorized traffic, especially on main and country roads. Overall, ten out of fifteen large cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants achieved significant improvements, while a deterioration in ratings was noted in cities such as Berlin, Düsseldorf and Essen.

A look at Germany's most bike-friendly cities

A look at the rankings shows that Frankfurt am Main is the most bike-friendly city with a rating of 3.49. In the category of cities with between 200,000 and 500,000 inhabitants, Münster is the front runner with a grade of 2.97. These results come from a uniform evaluation process, which has been carried out for the eleventh time and is organized by the ADFC. The ADFC bicycle climate test has established itself as one of the world's largest surveys of cyclist satisfaction.

The federal government has increasingly emphasized measures to promote cycling in recent years. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder emphasizes that good infrastructure and traffic routes help to increase satisfaction in cycling. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether and how these measures will impact the infrastructure in Oberhausen.