Germany is building a 62-mile car-free bicycle highway, with the first 3-mile section connecting Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr opened in 2015. The project will eventually link ten cities and four universities, aiming to reduce car pollution by removing 50,000 cars from roads daily. The highway features streetlights, passing lanes, and overpasses, offering cyclists a scenic, safe route. The idea began in 2010 from a cultural event on the A40 Autobahn. Other German cities are studying similar projects, while the Netherlands has been expanding its bike highways since 2000.
Germany is constructing a 62-mile-long car-free bicycle highway. The first 3-mile section, opened in 2015, connects Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr. When complete, the highway will link ten western cities, including Bochum, Hamm, and Duisburg, and four universities.
The bicycle highway aims to reduce car pollution, potentially removing 50,000 cars from the roads daily, according to an RVR study. This reduction is expected to improve public health and provide a safer environment for cyclists.
The highway features streetlights, passing lanes, and overpasses and underpasses, ensuring cyclists avoid trucks, buses, and cars. It offers a scenic route with hills and trees and clear path for long distances.
The concept originated in 2010 when a cultural event closed the A40 Autobahn between Duisburg and Dortmund, allowing over two million people to use the road for walking, skating, and cycling. This event, combined with Europe’s interest in electric bikes and clean environments, led to the bicycles highway’s development.
Other German cities, such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, and Nuremberg are exploring similar cycle-friendly initiatives to reduce air pollution and traffic. However, Germany is not the first to build a bicycle highway. The Netherlands began constructing a network of bike highways between 2000 and 2010 and continues to expand it.
