Bicycle lanes in Aachen

On a cycle lane, the carriageway is reserved for cyclists. It increases the attractiveness of cycling and gives cyclists priority over motor vehicles.

What applies in cycle lanes?

• The road becomes a "cycle path" and is generally reserved for bicycle traffic. Use by other types of traffic may be permitted by additional signs. You are then a guest on the carriageway.
• Cyclists have priority. They set the pace and have right of way at certain points.
• Cyclists may ride side by side and in groups.
• All destinations in this street can still be reached - even by car. This applies to residents, delivery traffic and guests alike.
• The establishment of a bicycle lane does not affect the parking supply.
• The principle of mutual consideration naturally also applies to all road users in cycle lanes.
• The speed limit in cycle lanes is also 30 km/h.
• Unless otherwise specified, right-before-left still applies.
• The sidewalk is reserved for children up to the age of 10 who are walking or cycling. Supervisors aged 16 and over may accompany children up to the age of 8 who are cycling on the sidewalk on their own bicycles

Legal basis

• Vehicular traffic other than cyclists may not use cycle lanes unless this is permitted by additional signs.
• The maximum speed limit for driving traffic is 30 km/h. Cyclists must not be endangered or hindered. If necessary, motor vehicles must reduce their speed further.
• Riding bicycles side by side is permitted.
• In all other respects, the regulations on road use and right of way apply.
• Bicycle lanes can be considered if cycling is the predominant mode of traffic or is expected to be in the near future.
• Vehicular traffic other than cyclists may only be permitted in exceptional cases by placing appropriate additional signs (e.g. residential traffic). Therefore, the needs of motor vehicle traffic must be adequately taken into account before the arrangement is made (alternative traffic routing).

Guidelines and recommendations for the establishment and design of cycle lanes

In the guidelines for the design of urban roads (RASt 2006), access roads with loads of up to around 400 vehicles/h, which represent main connections for cycling in the context of the cycling network, are named for the use of cycle lanes. They are intended to bundle existing or expected bicycle traffic away from main motor vehicle roads. Vehicle traffic other than bicycle traffic (e.g. residential traffic) is permitted there if this is indicated by additional signs.

The recommendations for cycling facilities (ERA 2010) provide further information on the design of cycle lanes. In addition to signage, the marking of bicycle pictograms on the roadway is recommended at junctions and intersections.

A research report on the road safety of cycle lanes published in 2016 by the German Insurers Accident Research Association (UDV) recommended, among other things

• design cycle lanes uniformly along the entire route
• provide sufficient space for two bicycles to pass side by side or for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to pass each other
• mark a safe distance from parked vehicles
• Apply pictogram markings on the road, for example with the symbol "bicycle" or the traffic sign "bicycle lane"
• To make right-of-way rights clearly recognizable

Bicycle lanes are now used in many cities in Germany. However, there are no uniform design standards for cycle lanes. A design standard was therefore developed and adopted for Aachen in 2018.

What do cycle lanes look like?

The design of cycle lanes in Aachen should be clearly and uniformly recognizable and ensure the highest possible level of road safety for all road users. To this end, standards for the design of cycle lanes in Aachen were adopted in the fall of 2018:

• As a rule, motor vehicle traffic should still be possible in cycle lanes. Minimum widths are provided to enable the best possible conflict-free interaction between road users on a cycle lane. The optimum width of the lane of a cycle lane is 4.50 m.
• The cycle lanes have an interrupted wide line (25 cm) to the right and left of the lane. This also delimits the safety space to parked motor vehicles (usually 0.75 m in accordance with ERA 2010). It may be driven over.
• In addition, punctual marking elements draw road users' attention to the fact that they are on a cycle lane and that cyclists have priority there. The following are used for this purpose:
• Pictogram marking with symbol "VZ 244.1 Fahrradstraße" at the start of a cycle lane to clarify the type of traffic.
• Pictogram markings with a cyclist symbol and direction arrows to make it clear that cyclists have priority at junctions and crossroads and at regular intervals.
• Bicycle lanes should be given priority over other access roads. This is decided on a case-by-case basis. In these cases, the roadway between the wide lines in the intersection or junction area is colored red and marked with a pictogram. In special cases, pavements may be added.
• Speed reduction measures must always be examined.

Where are there cycle lanes?

In recent years, a large number of new cycle lanes have been set up on priority cycle routes in Aachen. Cycle lanes are the main guidance element of the cycle priority network.

Even before the establishment of priority cycle routes and the definition of design standards for the creation of cycle lanes, there were already two short sections of cycle lane in Aachen on Annastrasse and Karl-Kuck-Strasse.

Until the end of 2020, cycle lanes were only marked red in the intersection areas in accordance with Aachen's design standard. In accordance with Goal 4 of the Aachen Cycling Decision to color all new cycling facilities in Aachen red, all new cycle lanes will be completely colored red from 2021. The previously established roads are to be subsequently colored red. By the end of 2021, Aachen had 20 cycle lanes with a total length of approx. 5.5 km. Further cycle lanes will be created as part of the expansion of the cycle priority network.

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