Bicycle lanes serve to bundle bicycle traffic. They can be set up where cycling has or should have priority. Motor vehicle traffic is only permitted in cycle lanes if it is explicitly authorized by an additional sign. But even then, cars and other motor vehicles are only guests in cycle lanes. Cycle traffic sets the pace here, cyclists may ride at any time at their desired speed and also side by side.

Bonn is a city that has grown historically. Many road profiles have a small cross-sectional area and only a small overall width. For reasons of space alone, this makes it extremely difficult to create segregated cycle paths.

In 30 km/h zones, the provision of cycle facilities such as cycle lanes or cycle lanes is also not permitted. The creation of high-quality cycle lanes is therefore particularly useful for secondary roads used by motor vehicles in order to provide priority infrastructure for cyclists. Whether cycle lanes are perceived as safe by cyclists depends largely on their design.

In future, the city of Bonn will apply new minimum standards when setting up new cycle lanes:

As a rule, the lane width should be 4.5 meters, and at least 4 meters at narrow points. This is important to ensure that cyclists have sufficient lane width to avoid swerving into the door zone of cars, even in oncoming traffic. This is because many accidents happen when car doors are opened carelessly. This also gives cyclists the opportunity to ride side by side. This is permitted at all times in cycle lanes; motor traffic must adapt to the speed of cyclists.

To ensure that all road users are aware of the special rules on cycle lanes, the city of Bonn is applying a new marking standard. In addition to bicycle pictograms , the lane will be marked with red edge markings.

Through targeted public relations work, the city of Bonn also provides information about the rules and obligations in cycle lanes.

The cycle lanes that have been designated in Bonn and are about to be implemented are part of the cycling network. This is the basis for expanding and improving the cycling infrastructure in Bonn. Most of the implemented and planned cycle lanes are part of the cycle lane concept  (can be read here in the council information system (opens in a new tab)). The implementation of new cycle lanes closes important gaps in the city's cycling network.

In cycle lanes, cycle traffic sets the pace, cyclists may ride at their desired speed at any time and also side by side.

In a cycle lane, right before left applies unless the cycle lane has right of way. In Bonn, bicycle lanes are to be designated predominantly with right of way in future.

The principle of mutual consideration also applies in cycle lanes; cyclists should therefore show particular consideration for vulnerable road users. This includes pedestrians in particular.

Cars are guests in cycle lanes and may only use them if an additional sign permits it. Cyclists have priority here. Cycle lanes are subject to a 30 km/h speed limit and a special ban on obstructing and endangering cycle traffic. This means that cars, trucks and motorcycles must reduce their speed if necessary. Overtaking is only permitted if a sufficient safety distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained and oncoming traffic is not obstructed or endangered.

Cyclists may ride side by side at all times, even if overtaking is no longer possible - motor vehicles must adjust their speed accordingly.

When setting up cycle lanes, the lane should generally be 4.5 meters wide, but at least 4 meters wide at narrow points. This is important as most cycle lanes in Bonn are open to motor traffic. Sufficient lane width allows for conflict-free encounters between cyclists and motor vehicles. This is to prevent cyclists from swerving into the door zone of stationary traffic, which poses a considerable risk of accidents. The administrative courts of Hanover and Cologne (VG Hanover, judgment of 17.07.2019 - 7 A 7457/17 and VG Cologne, judgment of 15.10.2021 - 18 K 6758/17) have also ruled that cycle lanes should offer clear added value for cyclists in contrast to other urban roads. This also includes sufficient widths.

Due to the prevailing parking regulations, the lane widths in current and yet-to-be-implemented cycle lanes are in some cases significantly narrower. The administration has therefore checked the cycle lanes still to be implemented for compliance with the minimum widths. Where necessary, parking spaces should therefore be converted in favor of a sufficiently wide road surface when implementing new cycle lanes.

In the past, sidewalks have often been cleared for stationary traffic at the expense of pedestrian traffic and sometimes in disregard of the applicable guidelines - people who rely on walking aids or a wheelchair or who travel with a baby carriage in particular need sufficiently wide sidewalks.

When planning the cycle lanes, the administration has therefore also taken into account the needs of pedestrians and restored the minimum width of 1.5 meters. In addition to the applicable regulations, the City of Bonn has the  resolutions Radentscheid Bonn (opens in a new tab) (in the Council information system Allris: DS202321 Radentscheid Bonn) and  Gesamtstädtische Parkraumstrategie (opens in a new tab) (in the Council information system Allris: DS212060 Gesamtstädtische Parkraumstrategie).

Cars may only park in designated and marked parking spaces.

However, stopping to briefly load or unload something or to drop off or pick up a person is permitted in bicycle lanes. Parcel and delivery services are also allowed to stop briefly on the right-hand side of the road. Craftsmen, care and social services and midwives can also apply for a  craftsmen's parking permit. This permit entitles them to park free of charge in restricted no-parking zones, in public parking spaces where parking discs are compulsory, at parking meters and in the area of parking ticket machines, without observing the maximum duration or in residents' parking spaces.

This exemption only applies if no other parking is available within a reasonable distance and for the duration of the respective work assignment.

This ensures that residents can be easily reached by tradespeople, care services and suppliers in the bicycle streets in the future.

Pedestrians have the same rights and obligations as on other city streets. The implementation of sufficiently wide sidewalks should ensure that it is easy for everyone to move forward, including people who are dependent on a walking aid or wheelchair or who use a baby carriage.