The German City of Erlangen has been awarded first place in the “Top Performer” category of the German Cyclists’ Association’s (ADFC) Cycling Climate Test for cities with 100,000 to 200,000 residents.
The survey ran from September to November 2024, inviting cyclists across Germany to rate the bike-friendliness of their towns and cities via questionnaire. In Erlangen, participants praised the winter maintenance of cycle paths, active promotion of cycling, and the broad accessibility of cycling for all age groups.
However, respondents also highlighted areas for improvement, including:
- A high number of bicycle thefts
- Limited options for taking bikes on public transport
- A lack of clear cycling signage
Despite these concerns, Erlangen has consistently improved its score over the last three surveys, even as average ratings in similarly sized cities and municipalities have declined slightly.
Lord Mayor Florian Janik stated, “Without bicycles, a climate-friendly transformation of transport is not possible. We recognised this in Erlangen a long time ago and have worked continuously in recent years to expand and improve our cycling infrastructure.”
Some of the city’s key achievements include the creation of numerous secure parking facilities, closing key gaps in the cycle network, and implementing pioneering projects such as the environmental lanes along the Europakanal (‘Europe Canal’), which form part of the planned metropolitan cycle route between Bamberg and Nuremberg.
Planning and Construction Officer Harald Lang noted that budget consolidation may slow future progress. “Unfortunately, the necessary budget consolidation will slow us down somewhat in the coming years. However, our goal of making cycling in Erlangen even more attractive remains unchanged,” he said.
The city’s updated Future Plan: Cycling City focuses on improving major cycling routes and improving connections between urban districts, residential areas, employment zones, educational institutions, and neighbouring communities.
Author: Claus Köllinger
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
