Bicycle lanes

A cycle lane is a road designated for cycle traffic, the carriageway of which is reserved for cyclists. It is marked with traffic signs (VZ).

The establishment of a cycle lane increases the attractiveness of cycling by giving cyclists advantages over motor vehicles on these routes.

The top 3 rules in cycle lanes are

• Permitted maximum speed 30km/h,
• Cyclists may ride side by side,
• vehicles, motorcycles, etc. are permitted as guests.

Bicycle lanes are not cycle paths.

Permission for other road users
Motorized vehicles, for example, can optionally be permitted in cycle lanes by means of additional signs. This is primarily done in order to

• residents of the bicycle lane the accessibility of their residence by private car or by public transport.
• the accessibility of destinations that may be located in a bicycle lane

to make this possible.

Motorized transit traffic should always avoid bicycle lanes.

Experience has shown that the additional traffic sign 1020-30 "Residents free", which can be used for this purpose, is misinterpreted by motor vehicle drivers.
The city of Aachen has therefore decided to prohibit residents from using cycle lanes by means of a combination of additional traffic signs

• 1022-12 "Motorcycles (also with sidecars, mopeds and mopeds) free" and

• 1024-10 "Car free"

to be permitted. The clear prioritization makes it clear that the road is primarily reserved for bicycle traffic and that motorized vehicles must be subordinate to cyclists.

Further topics