Cycling is not only healthy and inexpensive, it is also an important part of our everyday and leisure mobility.
© City of Aachen / Andreas Steindl
Aachen offers both relaxed leisure and everyday routes. Many Aachen residents are familiar with the main road network outside their residential area. However, the better routes for cycling are off this network. It is therefore helpful to look for cycle routes using maps or cycle route planners.
Traffic rules
What applies in cycle lanes? When does what overtaking distance apply to cars? When am I allowed to cycle against a one-way street?
What applies on the different cycle paths?
Cycle paths or cycle lanes that must be used can be recognized by bicycle signs with a blue background. Cyclists must use them. These paths are exclusively for cyclists and may only be used by other road users in exceptional cases. Special consideration must be given to other road users on combined footpaths and cycle paths. Cycle paths not subject to mandatory use are protective lanes (recognizable by a bicycle symbol without a blue background and a narrow marking line). These may be crossed by cars if necessary
When am I allowed to cycle against a one-way street?
If the one-way street is open to cyclists, there is an additional "Cycle free" sign at both ends of the street below the traffic sign.
What rules apply in cycle lanes?
The road becomes a cycle path and is therefore generally reserved for cyclists. Other types of traffic are welcome here. Cyclists have priority. They set the pace and have right of way at certain points. Cyclists may ride side by side in groups. The maximum permitted speed is 30 km/h. The right-before-left rule applies unless otherwise signposted. Cyclists aged 9 and over may ride on the cycle route.
When am I allowed to ride on the sidewalk?
If the sidewalk is cleared with the additional sign "Rad frei". Then the cyclist is a guest and must show special consideration for pedestrians. Children up to the age of 10 may also ride on a sidewalk that is not explicitly cleared for bicycles. They may be accompanied by a maximum of one parent up to the age of 8.
Cycle paths and rules
Further information on cycling can be found in the following documents, among others:
Bicycle offers on abeachenwegt
At aachenbewegt.de you will find a wealth of information, hands-on activities, events and offers relating to sustainable mobility in Aachen. Current bicycle offers are also compiled here.
Cycle routes
Andreas Steindl, © City of Aachen / Andreas Steindl
Finding the right route to suit your needs - the fastest, most beautiful or safest route - there are numerous route offers for this. Aachen offers both relaxed after-work and weekend tours in and around Aachen as well as the opportunity to set off on various long-distance tours by bike to explore your own and neighboring countries. The standardized NRW cycle route signposts with a red border can be found throughout the city, providing additional support for spontaneous excursions as well as long tours. The system of numbered junctions, which is very popular and proven throughout the Euregio, is also to be extended to the city of Aachen.
Aachen cycling summer
Get to know the city's route network even better with the Aachen Cycling Summer and use the bicycle more often as a means of leisure transportation. Every year, a new themed circular tour is signposted and presented and described in a flyer.
Cycle route planner NRW
The state of NRW provides the "NRW cycle route planner" free of charge. You can, for example, give priority to routes with few gradients or cycle paths.
Service from BikeCitizien
Bikecitizens" offers a special service. This app allows interested parties to see which area can be reached in a certain time from a certain location. For example, the Elisenbrunnen can be reached in 15 minutes from almost any point within the outer ring at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour.
Vennbahn route
Cycle path along the historic Aachen-Luxembourg railroad line
Cycling
Discover the most beautiful areas in and around Aachen by bike or set off on long-distance bike tours to explore your own and neighboring countries. The NRW-standardized cycle route signposts with a red border can already be found throughout the city, providing additional support for spontaneous excursions as well as long tours. The system of numbered junctions, which is very popular and proven throughout the Euregio, has been extended to the city of Aachen.
Bicycle Guide StädteRegion Aachen
Long-distance routes
Aachen - Jülich railroad line cycle path
Cyclists can cycle comfortably and without climbing from the imperial city of Aachen to Jülich on the 32-kilometre-long railroad line cycle path.tour portal2-country route
270 km (229 km within NRW)
Aachen-Nijmegen (NL)
Cross-border connection (NL)Green route / Green metropolis route
370 km
Düren-Heerlen-Beringen (NL/BEL)
Cross-border tour through the green metropolisKaiser-Route
476 km
Aachen - Paderborn
"In the footsteps of Charlemagne"Route planner East Belgium
You can plan your route by mountain bike or bicycle.
go.ostbelgien.euWasserburgenroute
524 km
Alsdorf-Herzogenrath-Aachen-Euskirchen
Voreifel-Route
Bicycle parking
© City of Aachen / Sabrina Horch
Since last year, you can securely park your bike or e-bike at eight locations in Aachen's city center. To do this, you need to apply for the APAG Mobility Key once and without a basic fee. The rest is then child's play: hold the Mobility Key in front of the reader, open the door or enter the lock, park your bike securely and then go shopping or to work without a care in the world!
From an early age
LeManna, © City of Aachen
Cycling safety training
Andreas Steindl, © fotograf-aachen.de // Andreas Steindl
Different training programs for more safety when cycling, pedelecs and cargo bikes
The city's "FahrRad in Aachen" campaign aims to help all children and adults to better assess their own cycling behavior and contribute to increasing their sense of safety in road traffic. All training sessions should help to maintain the joy of cycling for as long and as safely as possible.
Bicycle with bus and train
Bicycle and bus & train are ideal partners for a relaxed excursion or a short or long journey. In the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in particular, however, the systems of different countries come together.
In principle, bicycles are only transported if there are suitable parking facilities and the available space permits. Passengers with baby carriages and wheelchair users always have priority over cyclists.
Every Sunday and public holiday between the end of March and the end of October, the bicycle buses travel to Monschau and Kalterherberg in the Eifel or to Simmerath, Einruhr and Vogelsang Castle. All information on departure times and tickets can be found in the detailed flyer of the Aachener Verkehrsverbund (PDF).