Cycling climate evaluation by ADFC: Wuppertal ranks 21st among 25 cities assessed
Cyclists in Wuppertal are voicing their frustration over the narrow bike lanes and the mixture of cyclists with motor vehicles on the road. However, there's a silver lining - many one-way streets in the city are open to cyclists, thanks in part to the efforts of the ADFC Wuppertal/Solingen.
The cycling club is pushing for a comprehensive expansion of the bike lane network and greater attention to this issue in the upcoming municipal elections. "A bike-friendly city benefits everyone," says Peter Ritter (Chairman of ADFC Wuppertal/Solingen). "It reduces traffic congestion, promotes health, and contributes to climate protection."
In the cyclists' assessment, the bike-friendliness in Wuppertal remains unchanged from 2022, with a grade of 4.3. This means that around 84% of respondents feel unsafe while cycling in the city. To address this issue, the ADFC advocates for "convincing mobility concepts and quick filling of gaps in the bike lane network." Small improvements such as enforcing parking regulations on bike lanes and providing specific solutions for cyclists during construction could make a significant difference.
Life aboard a bicycle in the city can be stressful, with 89% of respondents believing that illegal parking on bike lanes is not adequately punished by the city. The width of bike lanes, the lack of traffic light signals for cyclists, and traffic management at construction sites were all rated highly. On the bright side, bike theft is not a major concern.
First conducted in 2024, the ADFC Bike Climate Test is one of the largest surveys on cyclist satisfaction worldwide. This year, around 213,000 cyclists participated, with 21% being ADFC members. Results from 1,047 cities were evaluated based on safety, the quality of bike lanes, and traffic interaction. At least 50, 75, or 100 votes were required per municipality for reliable results.
This year's survey came against a backdrop of ongoing discussions and some progress regarding the expansion of Wuppertal's bike lane network, reflecting broader trends in urban mobility and active transport infrastructure. Strategies for enhancing urban space include reallocating road space to accommodate bike lanes, improving user safety, accessibility, and public health, and bolstering local economic activity and community cohesion.
Since 2024, there have been some significant developments in Wuppertal. The city saw the service expansion of Dott, offering e-bikes and scooters, in 2025. Although specific figures on new bike lane kilometers added since 2024 are not available, the trend in European cities, including Wuppertal, is towards the active promotion of cycling through infrastructure improvements in line with sustainable transport goals.
- Encouraging the expansion of bike lane networks and addressing the issue of safety for cyclists is a focus in the upcoming municipal elections, as suggested by Peter Ritter, Chairman of ADFC Wuppertal/Solingen.
- Peter Ritter also emphasized that a bicycle-friendly city contributes to climate protection, reduced traffic congestion, and improved public health.
- To improve cycling conditions and ensure safety, the ADFC advocates for implementing "convincing mobility concepts" that include filling gaps in the bike lane network and enforcing parking regulations on bike lanes.
- The progress of Wuppertal's bike lane network expansion and the active promotion of cycling, such as the service expansion of Dott offering e-bikes and scooters in 2025, are developments in line with sustainable transportation goals and broader trends in urban mobility and active transport infrastructure.
