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A long-distance bicycle highway is under construction in Germany
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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High-speed motorways are widespread in Germany, and today a new expressway is being built here just for cyclists. According to some sources, the bicycle highway will be about 100 km long and will connect 2 cities - Hamm and Deisburg, the route will run through 8 cities.
In Germany, more and more people prefer cycling. But cycling is considered not only a means of transportation, but also beneficial to health, and, as cycling enthusiasts note, it brings real pleasure. In various German cities, a large number of roads for cyclists have been created, and rural areas are not lagging behind in this regard, where many good bike paths have been equipped.
The new cycle route will run mainly along abandoned railways, through the north-west of Germany. The width of the cycle routes is about 4 m, special overtaking lanes have been created on them, and the cycle routes, like regular roads, will be cleared of snow and debris.
The new cycle route is not yet complete. The first section of the autobahn was opened in 2010, the second in November last year, connecting Mülheim and Essen. But even the unfinished autobahn is already an excellent option for intercity travel.
In most cases, bike lanes are built onto existing highways, but even if there is a good fencing system, there is a high probability that bike lanes will disappear. The new bike highway is planned to be continuous and connect not only cities, but also run through city centers.
Today, financing the construction of a bicycle highway is the main problem. Roads for cars are built at the expense of federal funds, while the construction of bicycle highways is entirely the responsibility of local authorities. This is what makes the construction of a bicycle highway difficult, since its route runs between cities. The European Union is ready to provide half of the amount needed for construction, and the Ruhr region will allocate part. In Berlin, they intend to use advertising to raise the missing amount. It is assumed that banners with the necessary information will be placed along the road.
According to preliminary estimates, 1 km of bike path costs about 2 million euros (1 km of motorway costs 10 million euros).
The intercity bicycle highway is a project of the Federal German Republic's transport policy, and it is expected that this approach will increase the number of cycling enthusiasts. One member of the cycling association noted that after the completion of the autobahn, many people will want to switch from cars to bicycles, and this will significantly relieve the central city roads.
In 2014, the German Ministry of Transport conducted a study that found that the new bike highway would be able to replace more than 50,000 car trips. But the main advantage can be considered the undoubted health benefits that people will receive while cycling.