NRW municipalities are demanding more money for cycle path construction – urgent measures needed!

NRW municipalities are demanding more money for cycle path construction – urgent measures needed!

Municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia express their urgent need for more financial support from the federal government for the expansion of cycle paths. In many cities, cycling already accounts for between 15% and over 30% of total traffic, which underlines the importance of a well-developed cycle path network. Despite the growing importance of cycling, there are major challenges because cities often decide on the use of public road space based on available financial resources and local needs.

Cities' scope for investment is severely limited. Last year, many cities recorded a record deficit of almost 25 billion euros. However, municipalities reacted skeptically to the announcement that the federal government would like to promote the expansion of cycle paths more, as they fear that there will not be enough funds to realize all of the planned projects. The Association of Cities and Municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia emphasizes how important it is to provide municipalities with financial resources in order to achieve their goals in the area of ​​cycling. In addition, in many places there is a lack of qualified specialist staff to expand the cycling infrastructure, which makes the situation even more difficult.

State government invests in cycle path infrastructure

At the same time, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is investing over 38 million euros in cycle path infrastructure for 2023. Transport Minister Oliver Krischer emphasizes the significant role that the expansion of cycle paths plays in the mobility transition. The targeted funding will, among other things, use 15.4 million euros to build new cycle paths on state roads and 23 million euros to maintain existing cycle paths.

The state government plans to provide at least as much funding for cycle paths as for state roads in order to strengthen the cycling infrastructure as a whole. Of the total planned investments, around 51 million euros will flow into various projects. Of this, 19.5 million euros are planned for the promotion of local mobility, 10 million euros for rapid cycle connections and 6 million euros from the federal government for cycle paths on federal roads. The state government's goal is to create an additional 1,000 kilometers of new cycle paths by 2027, which should further increase the attractiveness of cycling.

Future prospects for cycle paths

The “Citizen Cycle Paths” model project also promotes community construction of cycle paths, which provides food for thought for future projects. The fact that support is offered to municipalities in the planning and construction of municipal cycle path networks is another positive aspect of this initiative. The Ministry of Transport plans to present a requirements plan for rapid cycle connections in 2025 and would like to define a nationwide cycle priority network by the end of 2025. This should not only contribute to the networking of communities, but also make cycling in North Rhine-Westphalia even more attractive.

In this context, the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) will present the results of its nationwide bicycle climate test in Berlin, while Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) is expected to honor the best municipalities. ADFC state director Susanne Niemann will present additional information about the situation in North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf, thereby providing an insight into the progress and challenges in the cycling sector.

Overall, it is clear that both the federal and state governments are taking steps to expand cycling infrastructure and promote cycling, although municipalities continue to need more comprehensive financial support to effectively implement their plans.

You can find more information in the reports from South Germans and State of North Rhine-Westphalia.