Bicycle accident on the Baltic Sea: holidaymaker dies after collision!

Bicycle accident on the Baltic Sea: holidaymaker dies after collision!

A tragic accident occurred on July 6, 2025 on a cycle path on the Baltic Sea, shocking not only the people affected, but also the local community. A 60-year-old holidaymaker from Mönchengladbach, who was traveling with her husband on the Bay of Wismar, tried to overtake a group of cyclists. In a right-hand bend that was difficult to see, there was a collision with a 49-year-old racing cyclist who was no longer able to avoid it. The accident happened along the Wohlenberger Wiek, a popular destination for cyclists and holidaymakers, and turned out to be fatal. According to NDR, the woman suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and lung damage, despite wearing a protective helmet.

The racing cyclist, who also fell, was lucky and only sustained minor injuries. Immediately after the accident, the holidaymaker was resuscitated at the scene of the accident and flown to the Lübeck Clinic in a rescue helicopter. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her serious injuries a short time later. This incident once again highlights the dangers cyclists face on country roads and cycle paths. According to a current study by insurers' accident research (UDV), there were an average of four deaths and 58 seriously injured cyclists per week on country roads in Germany. The majority of these accidents are caused by a lack of cycle paths and poor visibility, which is also reflected in other tragic accidents.

Dangers for cyclists

The UDV study highlights the increasing number of accidents and makes it clear that such incidents are not rare. In the last ten years, accidents have increased by almost 30 percent. An old problem remains: cyclists are often overlooked, especially on roads where the speed of motor vehicles is high. One of the most common causes of accidents is collisions between cars and cyclists, which also occur on streets without designated cycle paths. Intersections are particularly critical, where 68 percent of serious accidents occur.

The study also found that visibility was impaired at two out of three accident scenes, increasing the risk for cyclists. A call to create safe crossings for cyclists, remove visual obstructions and introduce speed limits is urgently needed. “It is essential that cyclists and drivers show more consideration for each other,” demands the UDV in its statement. Cyclists should wear bright, reflective clothing and always pay attention to their visibility, especially on busy country roads.

This tragedy is another wake-up call for transport policymakers to rethink infrastructure and improve cycle paths to prevent future accidents. The demands for more safety for cyclists could not be more current. The accident on the Baltic Sea, which claimed the life of a carefree holidaymaker, makes it clear that something must be done here to ensure that such dramatic situations do not repeat themselves in the future.