Workshop on Bicycle Mobility in the Bergisches RheinLand

From 8-9 October 2024, 45 planners and civil servants from the Bergisches Rheinland, Germany gathered for a workshop to address local challenges, drawing inspiration from Dutch practices.

Among other things, answers to the following questions were discussed: How can bicycle mobility in the Bergisches RheinLand region be made more attractive and safer? How can the interests of different modes of transport and specialist departments be harmonised? What impact can be achieved with measures that can be implemented in the short term?

The event was organised by ADFC RheinBerg-Oberberg e.V. and REGIONALE 2025 Agentur GmbH together with its shareholders Oberbergischer Kreis, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis and Rhein-Sieg-Kreis and with the support of the town of Radevormwald. The workshop took place as part of the REGIONALE future topic ‘There and away! Networked mobility in Bergisches RheinLand’, which addresses the expansion and networking of cycling infrastructure.

Holistic transport planning as the key
Inspiration was provided by Tim Adema (Roelofs), Sjors von Duren (Royal HaskoningDHV), and Nils Steinhäuser of the Dutch Cycling Embassy. They emphasised that although the Netherlands is a car country, the transport system is viewed holistically. Looking at the overall network from the perspective of different modes of transport creates advantages for all road users. For example, a well-designed road space is not only intuitively legible due to the presence of traffic signs and supports more considerate behaviour towards one another. Sjors von Duren describes this effect as ‘The street tells a story.’ His comments were underpinned by examples of best practice. In his presentation, Guido Ensemeier from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly Cities Working Group (AGFS) presented various options within the framework of the Road Traffic Act that can be used to improve the situation for cyclists quickly and easily, for example through the use of pictogram chains.

Constructive exchange on specific case studies
During the event, the participants also exchanged views on case studies that represent typical challenges in the Bergisches RheinLand region. These included the topography, landscape and nature conservation concerns, the car-focussed infrastructure and the lack of accessible alternative routes. As part of the future workshop, the participants discussed possible solutions from a technical and legal perspective as well as in terms of planning processes and organisation. One example focussed on the K18 district road in Wermelskirchen and the question of how to increase cyclists’ sense of safety there. On the other hand, ideas were discussed for Kaiserstraße/Hohenfuhrstraße in Radevormwald – the design of which is one of the central measures of the city of Radevormwald’s integrated local mobility concept. Overall, the exchange of ideas between the different areas of responsibility in the administrations based on these examples was seen as particularly enriching. The results of the two workshop days were then presented in an online forum.