E-bike revolution: This is how Paderborn becomes the cycling capital!

E-bike revolution: This is how Paderborn becomes the cycling capital!

In Cologne, the perspective of e-bikes is increasingly coming into focus. Uwe Seibel, the chairman of the advertising association, emphasizes that e-bikes make the journey into the city more attractive and are increasingly attracting more customers on two wheels. But how safe and comfortable is it for owners of expensive e-bikes to park their bikes?

The answer to this question could be crucial for local trade. Uncertainty about parking e-bikes could lead to customers ordering online rather than bringing their bikes downtown - a development that concerns all business owners. In order to meet this challenge, a well-thought-out charging station concept and secure parking options are essential to give customers a good feeling.

Safety in city traffic

Safety is a key issue for cyclists and e-bikers, especially in urban areas. Traffic planners warn about the most common causes of cycling accidents: cars turning right, inattentive drivers and the often confusing infrastructure. City centers were designed for cars in the 1950s and 60s, meaning bike lanes were often added as an afterthought and incoherently. There is still a lot of room for improvement here.

A survey shows that 78.7% of e-bikers value safety. At the same time, 77.3% have already experienced accidents or are afraid of them. A fair amount of responsibility lies with all road users, so it is important to put yourself in the driver's shoes and always make sure to be seen.

Tips for safe driving

If you want to travel safely with an e-bike, you should follow a few tips. An overview of traffic lights, keeping a distance from parked cars and being particularly careful when crossing tram tracks are essential. 56% of accidents involving cyclists are caused by potential errors made by motor vehicle drivers when turning. It is therefore important to act preventatively and recognize dangerous situations in good time.

• Behalten Sie einen Überblick über den Verkehr, insbesondere bei unklarem Streckenverlauf.
• Halten Sie Abstand zu parkenden Autos (mindestens 80 cm), um Türöffnungen zu vermeiden.
• Suchen Sie Blickkontakt mit Autofahrern und rechnen Sie damit, dass Sie eventuell nicht gesehen werden.
• Achten Sie beim Überqueren von Straßenbahnschienen und Bordsteinen auf den richtigen Winkel.

Additional information comes from Bosch indicating that e-bikes represent an environmentally friendly mobility alternative. Around 49.7% of e-bike riders replace car journeys with their trips. Customers in Cologne are also noticing this, as they are increasingly recognizing the advantage of the lower costs and better accessibility of e-bikes. At the same time, more than 70% of those surveyed would like to see more political commitment to expanding the bicycle infrastructure in order to make cycling safer and more attractive.

In summary, it can be said that e-bike use in Cologne is on the rise, but more attention urgently needs to be paid to safety in city traffic. The potential that e-bikes offer for trade and the environment can only be exploited if the necessary framework conditions are actually in place. Westfalen-Blatt reports about the developments, Fahrrad.de offers safety tips, and Bosch shapes security awareness in the e-bike community.