Xanten is number one in the Wesel district: bike-friendliness tested!

Xanten is number one in the Wesel district: bike-friendliness tested!

The city of Xanten has done it: it has been named the most bike-friendly city in the Wesel district! The rating comes from the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) and shows that the city leaves the rest of the district behind with a school grade of 3.6. Wesel and Hamminkeln follow close behind, while Dinslaken brings up the rear with a 4.3. Voerde, Moers and Neukirchen-Vluyn also didn't do particularly well and ended up in the lower midfield with a grade of 4.1. What is going wrong in the region that cyclists often do not feel safe on the roads?

The results from ten cities and municipalities clearly show that every second cyclist in the region has serious concerns about illegal parking, inappropriate traffic lights, construction sites and narrow cycle paths. Two thirds of the cyclists surveyed do not feel safe in traffic. These numbers are part of the ADFC bicycle climate test, in which over 217,000 cyclists from all over Germany took part this year. Compared to the previous year, nothing has changed for the better in any city - five cities have even worsened.

Cycling in North Rhine-Westphalia is on the rise

However, in a nationwide comparison, North Rhine-Westphalia was able to record an improvement. The ADFC states that the climate for cyclists has improved slightly according to the 2024 bicycle climate test. More than 213,000 people shared their experiences about 1,047 locations in Germany. “The larger cities are increasingly promoting cycling, which is reflected in the results,” reports the ADFC ADFC.de. Cities such as Frankfurt am Main in particular have improved significantly, while Berlin lags behind in the rating, which is due to insufficient commitment.

Cyclists across Germany have critically assessed how they interact in traffic. Next year, the ADFC will be conducting the bicycle climate test for the eleventh time, and the motto “Togetherness in traffic” will be the focus. The 2024 test offers cyclists the opportunity to express their opinions on safety, comfort and infrastructure. Participation will be possible from September 1st to November 30th, 2024. A simple online survey makes it easy to cast your vote. For more information and to register, visit the ADFC page ADFC.de.

A step forward for security

The municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia are now increasingly demanding more financial support from the federal government in order to further expand the infrastructure for cyclists. Bicycles already play a significant role in overall traffic in many cities, accounting for up to 30% or more. “What we need are good traffic concepts and innovative approaches to sensibly integrate the use of electric bicycles,” adds the ADFC.

Overall, there are many good approaches to making cycling safer and further increasing the proportion of cycling. But there is still a lot to be done to ensure traffic safety and create a comfortable climate for cyclists. The upcoming survey next year will provide important insights that will be of greater importance not only for politicians but also for citizens.