Foreword
Dear citizens of Bonn,
This is the second publication of the transparency report on the implementation status of Bonn's cycling decision. The report underlines our ongoing commitment to developing Bonn into a liveable, climate-friendly and child-friendly city in which sustainable mobility is not only promoted, but lived.
Last year, we offered over 21 different formats for participation, information and dialog in order to actively involve you, the citizens, in the design of the cycling and walking infrastructure. These events were a valuable platform for exchange and enabled us to incorporate your needs and suggestions directly into our planning.
We have also made significant progress in the implementation of relevant infrastructure. Among other things, four fully automated and central bicycle parking garages were set up, which together offer 280 protected bicycle parking spaces. An additional protected parking facility for over 60 bicycles and 3 cargo bikes has also been set up in the Stadthaus garage. These offer the opportunity to safely store your own bike at central public transport stops and also to conveniently store items such as helmets and rainwear. In Germany and the region, we play a pioneering role in this area with our fully automated bicycle parking garages.
Another milestone is the decision and the current establishment of 40 bicycle lanes. With this ambitious project, Bonn is currently implementing one of the largest bicycle road networks in Germany. With our adapted marking and implementation standard, we are increasing safety and comfort for cyclists, making daily commuting by bike more attractive and improving sidewalk widths for safe and barrier-free use.
Despite these milestones, we are aware that we are falling short of the targets set in the cycling referendum, particularly when it comes to the creation of safety crossings and the design of safe junctions. With this report, we have therefore also launched an implementation roadmap for the cycling referendum for the first time and optimized internal processes in order to drive planning forward. With this report, we are presenting a guideline for the first time that provides information on how we intend to continue implementing the cycling referendum over the next two years.
We would like to thank you for your trust and support and look forward to working with you to develop Bonn into an even more sustainable and liveable city in which everyone can get around safely and easily.
Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn
and
Helmut Wiesner, Head of Department for Planning, Environment and Transport
The Bonn cycling decision
Radentscheid Bonn is a citizens' initiative that was launched in 2020 by the initiative of the same name and was adopted and approved by the City of Bonn's main committee in February 2021. The citizens' initiative defines seven transport policy goals for the improvement of cycling and walking infrastructure. You can find more information here (opens in a new tab).
Implementation status of the Bonn 2023 and 2024 cycling decision
Goal 1: Safe and continuous cycle path network for Bonn
With the implementation of a continuous cycle path network, all parts of the city are to be connected safely and conveniently.
New cycling network plan politically approved
In December 2023, the Bonn City Council adopted a new cycling network plan. This builds on the 2012 transport development plan and is to be understood as a target network for the future development of cycling infrastructure in Bonn. It thus represents the long-term strategy for the expansion of the cycling network and has a hierarchy of connecting routes in main routes and basic network.
This makes it an important milestone for Bonn's transport planning, as it allows cycling projects to be better prioritized based on their network importance and the interests of the different modes of transport to be weighed up appropriately. When implementing the cycling network plan in the coming years, a particular focus will be on closing gaps in the cycling network.
The cycling network plan is also an important tool for internal administrative processes in order to make better use of synergies between upcoming "anyway measures", including new road construction and renovation measures, and the expansion of cycling infrastructure.
150 green arrows implemented for cycle traffic
At intersections with a green arrow, cyclists can also turn at red lights after stopping first and thus make faster progress in city traffic. By 2024, the city of Bonn will have equipped over 150 traffic light intersections with a green arrow.
Goal 2: New cycle paths and footpaths for Bonn
The city of Bonn is to install a total of 75 km of cycle paths or cycle traffic facilities within five years, which corresponds to 15 km per year. At least 25 km of these cycle paths should be structurally protected from motor vehicles driving, stopping and parking and have a minimum width of 2 m in each direction. Where these requirements are not feasible, environmental lanes or cycle lanes can be set up as an alternative. The latter must have a standard width of 4.5 m. The expansion of cycling infrastructure must not be at the expense of pedestrian traffic: As a rule, footpaths must be kept 2.5 m wide, in exceptional cases 1.5 m wide.
Between 2023 and 2024, the cycling and walking infrastructure was improved along 5 km
Before and after pictures - Adenauerallee before and after the road marking work.
- 1.5 km of protected cycle lanes were implemented on Adenauerallee (opens in a new tab) as part of a traffic trial.
- The construction of a 400 m long shared footpath and cycle path along the B56 has closed an important gap (opens in a new tab) and created a continuous connection between Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district.
- 1.1 km of shared footpaths and cycle paths were widened on the Bornheim-Alfter-Bonn cycle commuter route.
- The traffic infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians was improved along gap (opens in a new tab) and created a continuous connection between Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district.
- 1.1 km of shared footpaths and cycle paths were widened on the Bornheim-Alfter-Bonn cycle commuter route (opens in a new tab).
- The traffic infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians was improved along Königswinterer Straße (opens in a new tab) for a total of 1.9 km.
On Adolfstraße in the inner Nordstadt, near the Frankenbad, buses and cyclists currently do not have sufficient space to meet. To ensure that bus traffic can flow unhindered and cyclists are protected in future, a protected cycle lane will be set up. To this end, the parking spaces will be converted from transverse to longitudinal parking spaces. This will free up more space on the carriageway, which will be used to create a 100 m long protected bike lane.
In 2024, 22.2 km of cycling and walking infrastructure will be implemented
Since April 2024, 19.3 km of new cycle lanes have been established throughout the city.
A protected bike lane is to be installed on the Maximilian-Kolbe Bridge between Tannenbusch and Dransdorf over a length of 0.6 km by the end of the year.
As part of the Innere Nordstadt parking space concept, 1.9 km of adequate sidewalk widths will be restored. Car parking will be reorganized so that sidewalks that meet the structural requirements will have a sufficient minimum width of 1.5 m.
In Friedrich-Breuer-Straße in the center of Beuel, a changed traffic routing will be tested from June to December 2024. During this time, the road will be reserved for cyclists, pedestrians and public traffic. The road is to be redesigned in the future.
4.78 km are in the medium and longer-term planning stage
East-west axis: 2.28 km in planning:
In Bonn-Zentrum, there is a pedestrian underpass between the Old Cemetery on Thomastrasse and Herwartstrasse, which already provides a direct connection underneath the Deutsche Bahn line for pedestrian traffic. Today, this underpass is very narrow, dark and can only be used by stairs, i.e. it is not barrier-free. In future, the underpass is to be significantly widened, converted into a shared footpath and cycle path and equipped with barrier-free ramps. It will then form an important link for the east-west axis. The final planning currently depends on the route and the planning status of the Westbahn project.
The city council has commissioned a feasibility study and preliminary planning for the safe continuation of the east-west axis via Bertha-von-Suttner Platz, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz to Combahnstraße. The initial results should be available in mid-2024 and will then be presented to the political committees.
Internal administrative consultations are currently underway regarding the establishment of an environmental lane on Endenich Straße. Implementation is conceivable from 2025.
Bornheim-Alfter Bonn commuter cycle route, 1.2 km in planning:
Over the next few years, the section of the route along Justus-von-Liebig Straße, Brühler Straße, Rheindorfer Bach and Ennemoserstraße, up to 1.2 km in total, is to be adapted. Different routes are planned for this, and the extent to which the existing plans can be adapted to the cycling decision standard is currently being examined.
Cycle boulevard on Immenburgstraße, approx. 1 km:
On Immenburgstraße, a protected cycle path connection along Immenburgstraße of 1 km of road is to be established as part of the "Innovation Triangle" urban development project on the old abattoir site. This future " cycle boulevard (opens in a new tab)" is to be connected to the street "An der Immenburg" and the Bonn West stop by two new bridges. In a further step, bridge structures are to be built over the Deutsche Bahn and light rail tracks as well as another structure over the A565 highway. The cycle boulevard is intended to better connect Bonn's Nordstadt district with Bonn West for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Cycle path along the fireclay factory, 0.25 km:
At the former fireclay factory, an approx. 0.25 km long separate footpath and cycle path is to be created along the railroad line and parallel to the Am Burgweiher road. The aim here is to implement the Radentscheid standard. This is intended to close the gap and create a low-car alternative to the connection to Duisdorf station.
Goal 3: Design large traffic light intersections safely
According to the cycling decision, 6 and a total of 30 traffic light intersections are to be converted to the Dutch intersection standard every year.
The core element of the Dutch intersection design are crescent-shaped traffic islands, so-called safety islands. They reduce the turning radius for motor vehicles and thus reduce their speed when turning. Trucks can drive over them as they require larger turning radii. Cyclists and pedestrians have their own waiting niches and waiting areas. Stepped fords and waiting lines for cyclists increase their visibility compared to motor vehicles. The junction design is usually optimized by separate traffic light circuits. This means that cycling traffic going straight ahead and turning motor vehicle traffic are guided separately across the junction.
Implementation status 2023 to 2024
The implementation of safety crossings is preceded by a complex planning process. In current planning projects, the requirements for implementing a Dutch safety crossing are always examined, e.g. as part of the preliminary design planning for Bertha-von-Suttner Platz and for the Provinzialstraße and Schieffelingsweg junction. The city of Bonn has not yet implemented any specific projects.
Nevertheless, in order to create more safety for cyclists at junctions, the city of Bonn would like to pursue the goal set by the cycling decision for increased road safety at junctions with more flexibility. Intersections are to be examined to see to what extent individual elements of safer intersections can be adopted and implemented in the short term. Corresponding plans will be submitted to politicians for a decision.
The implementation roadmap provides an overview of possible implementation projects in the coming years.
Goal 4: Safe junctions and access roads
In line with the cycling decision, 100 road access points and property junctions are to be redesigned so that they can be crossed safely and barrier-free. To this end, pedestrian and cycle traffic at junctions between side streets and main roads is to continue at the same level (i.e. raised in relation to the roadway and without lowering the kerb). This means that the pedestrian and cycle path is kept at the same height above the junction. Motor vehicle traffic, on the other hand, must cross the footpath and cycle path via ramp stones when turning in/out. The ramp stones serve as a traffic-calming measure and protect pedestrians and cyclists from mistakes made by motor vehicles.
Implementation status 2023 to 2024
Between 2023 and 2024, no further junctions and access roads were implemented in accordance with the cycling decision. A standard for the implementation of level crossings at junctions was agreed within the city of Bonn.
The main focus of the future design is on increasing road safety. Here, motorized traffic is prompted to slow down when turning by a ramp. This increases the time needed to establish visual contact between road users. By running the side area (footpath) at the same level across a side road at a junction, pedestrians and cyclists are given priority, provided that they use the side area. This increases walking and cycling comfort for local mobility. In addition, the goal of barrier-free infrastructure can be achieved by eliminating kerbs. When examining such a plan, the traffic volumes, especially those of heavy goods vehicles for structural reasons, must always be assessed.
Outlook
In future, level junctions should be implemented as standard in new construction projects. As mentioned above, an exception is indicated in the case of a high volume of turning heavy goods traffic or bus traffic, as this can result in rapid wear and tear and consequently high expenditure for maintenance measures.
An overview of the procedure for the next two years can be found in the implementation schedule.
Goal 5: More bicycle parking spaces
According to the resolution on the cycling decision, 3,000 bicycle parking spaces are to be installed each year - this corresponds to a total of 15,000 bicycle parking spaces. At least 600 of these are to be installed in bicycle boxes and/or parking garages at locations with a high parking demand.
Installation of 340 covered and secure parking spaces for bicycles between 2023 and 2024
Together with SWB, the city of Bonn built and put into operation bicycle parking garages with a total of 280 lockable boxes at four central locations at the beginning of 2024.
Modular and fully automated parking systems (opens in a new tab) for bicycles have been installed at Frankenbadplatz, Stiftsplatz, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and the train station in Beuel. The lockers can be booked and paid for using an app.
This distributes capacity across the city:
- Beuel train station: 96 parking spaces
- Konrad-Adenauer-Platz: 72 parking spaces
- Stiftsplatz: 64 parking spaces
- Frankenbad 48 parking spaces
In addition, BCP (Bonner City Parkraum) has set up a bicycle parking facility in the Stadthaus garage (opens in a new tab). The two-storey construction allows space-saving parking for over 60 bikes. Three cargo bikes can also be accommodated.
The facility is particularly suitable for users who come to the city center by bike for shopping. The facility is video-monitored and fully fenced and will be supplemented with lockers in the coming months so that purchases can also be stored securely while shopping Stadthaus garage (opens in a new tab). The two-storey construction allows space-saving parking for over 60 bikes. Three cargo bikes can also be accommodated.
The facility is particularly suitable for users who come to the city center by bike for shopping. The facility is video-monitored and fully fenced and will be supplemented with lockers in the coming months so that purchases can also be stored securely while shopping.
In addition, 5 bicycle racks have been installed in Bachstraße and Budapester Straße, which equates to 20 additional parking spaces for cyclists.
Publication of the bicycle parking registration portal for Bonn residents
The publication of this transparency report marks the launch of the new reporting portal for submitting location suggestions for bicycle stands in the Bonn city area. Bonn residents can use the feedback/bicycle parking function in the City Key app (opens in a new tab) (download from the usual app stores) and at www.anregungen.bonn.de to submit location-based suggestions for bicycle racks to the city of Bonn. The City of Bonn will then check the implementation at the respective locations. The processing status can be viewed via the reporting platform. Depending on the number of proposals received, the review may take several months, so the City of Bonn asks for your patience.
Goal 6: Keep footpaths and cycle paths usable
To ensure safe progress, the cycling decision calls for cycle paths and footpaths to be kept usable. This includes the maintenance and renovation of the asphalt surface of cycle and pedestrian infrastructure, priority parking space monitoring and the expansion of winter road maintenance on the cycle path network. Keeping cycle paths and footpaths clear of leaves and overgrown shrubs etc. is also part of keeping them usable.
Implementation status
Winter service
bonnorange AöR is currently revising the winter road maintenance network for cycling. Currently, around 70 km of cycling infrastructure is already covered by bonnorange through the first priority of the winter service, and the network is to be expanded in order to take better account of the main cycling routes.
Construction site tour
Construction sites are set up in accordance with the provisions of the StVO. The "Roadworks safety in the area of footpaths and cycle paths" guidelines issued by the Working Group of Pedestrian and Bicycle-Friendly Cities (AGFS) are used as appropriate.
Parking space monitoring
No additional measures were taken, as parking enforcement had already focused equally on footpaths and cycle paths. Among other things, 10 additional staff positions for traffic monitoring were created to implement the parking space concept for the inner Nordstadt and Venusberg. This is intended to ensure that footpaths are usable for everyone. Traffic monitoring is currently being redesigned and reorganized. As part of this reorganization, a bicycle patrol will also be designed and set up in future.
Refurbishment and maintenance
No specific renovation measures were carried out on cycling infrastructure between 2023 and 2024.
Goal 7: Transparent implementation
As part of the cycling decision, it was decided that the administration would submit an annual written report on the implementation status of the cycling decision.
Implementation status 2023 to 2024
Bonn cycling decision implementation roadmap
With this year's transparency report, the City of Bonn is also publishing an implementation roadmap for the first time, detailing the implementation projects planned up to 2026.
Formats for citizen participation and information
Between 2023 and 2024, the City of Bonn held over 21 formats and events to involve and inform citizens on cycling and walking-related topics:
Bicycle lanes
In Beuel and Bad Godesberg, the administration provided information at a mobile stand at the weekly market in summer 2023 and answered questions from interested citizens. Two district walks took place in Südstadt. The administration also invited people to take a bike tour through existing and future cycle routes.
Many people also accepted the invitation to the central information event followed by a Q&A session at Beuel town hall. The event was also streamed on the City of Bonn's YouTube channel, where it was available online for two weeks. There were also meetings at the city planning office and telephone consultations.
Parallel to the implementation, several consultation appointments were also held in the City Hall, which were communicated to residents via information letters.
Adenauerallee
The city administration has offered numerous information and dialog opportunities for citizen participation.
In December 2023, the city administration offeredpublic information standson two dates, at the market and in front of the university library.
During the course of the transport trial, there were three further dialog stands where suggestions and feedback from citizens regarding the transport trial were collected. Answers to frequently asked questions were also compiled and made available on the City of Bonn's website.
East-west axis: early participation in the reallocation of Bertha-von-Suttner Platz
The street space on Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz is to be better aligned to the needs of different road users in the coming years with a new layout. In order to take into account the different concerns of citizens, the city of Bonn involved the perspectives and suggestions of citizens at an early stage as part of an early online participation process. Over 1,800 Bonn residents contributed their feedback.
Bönnsche Viertel
As part of the Bönnsche Viertel (opens in a new tab), there were a variety of activities and participation formats to get people talking about sustainable mobility concepts in the neighborhood. An overview of the various events can be found here: https://www.bonn.de/themen-entdecken/verkehr-mobilitaet/boennsche-viertel/inhaltsseiten/veranstaltungen.php (opens in a new tab)
Pedestrian traffic check
In the state-wide competition for a pedestrian traffic check, the NRW Ministry of Transport and the "Future Network Mobility NRW" (opens in a new tab) have selected the city of Bonn as a participating municipality. These checks support the municipal promotion of pedestrian traffic. The pedestrian traffic check was carried out in Bonn's Nordstadt district.
In akick-off workshopwith representatives from initiatives, politics and administration, the route was developed and initial problem areas identified. This was followed bytwo public walkabouts in which many people from the district took part.
Mobility Day and Bönnsche Stadtstraßen
On September 23, 2023, a big mobility day (opens in a new tab) took place on Münsterplatz. In addition to the City of Bonn, stakeholders from the field of sustainable mobility provided information about their offers and initiatives in Bonn. At the same time, various district campaigns took place in the Dottendorf, Endenich and Nordstadt districts, where citizens were able to use street space in a different way and the administration and neighborhood were able to enter into contact and dialogue.
Implementation roadmap
| Goal | Measure | Milestone by the 2025 transparency report | Contribution of the measure to achieving the objectives of the cycling decision |
| 2 | Installation of a protected bikelane on the Maximilian-Kolbe Bridge | Installation by 2025 | 0.6 km |
| 2 | Possible installation of a cycling facility on Adenauerallee (depending on traffic test and political decision) | Dependent on political decision, installation by 2025 | 1.5 km |
| 2 | Major renovation of Siemensstrasse and installation of a separate route for cycle traffic | Preparation of implementation planning, installation expected in 2025 | 1 km |
| 2 | Redesign of Kölnstraße (master plan for the inner city) | Preparation of implementation planning, expansion in 2025 | 1.1 km |
| 2 | Rathausgasse/Uni meets City (Masterplan Innere Stadt), installation of a protected cycling facility in the direction of the Rhine in accordance with the cycling decision | Preparation of implementation planning, start of construction depending on work by utility companies, probably from 2025 | Cycle lanes already in place today |
| 2 | Redesign of the banks of the Rhine (inner city master plan) | Start of construction in 2024 | Route already largely in place today |
| 2 | Redesign of Rheingasse (inner city master plan) | Preparation of the draft planning | 0.2 km |
| 2 | Redevelopment of Hohe Straße | Examination of guidance type according to Radentscheid standard | 1.2 km |
| 2 | Refurbishment Im Wingert, type of guidance to be checked (main route) | Check type of guidance according to cycling decision standard | 0.5 km |
| 2 | Rehabilitation of Justus-von-Liebig Straße | Check type of guidance according to cycling decision standard | 0.8 km |
| 2 | Implementation of further cycle lanes from the cycle lane concept | Identification of further gaps in the main route network in accordance with the political decision and preparation of a decision paper for political consultation | open |
| 2 | Bornheim-Alfter-Bonn commuter cycle route, open bridge structures, routing along Brühler Straße and Ennemoser Straße | Specification of further implementation steps | 1.2 km |
| 2 | Redistribution of Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and St. Augustiner Straße (up to Combahnstraße) | Creation of a design plan for Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz; creation of a feasibility study for Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and St. Augustiner Straße | 0.2 km |
| 2 | Pedestrian and cycle bridge over Bonn West as part of the Innovation Triangle project | The aim is to start construction in mid-2025 in order to complete the project within the Deutsche Bahn closure window in December 2025. If this is missed, the project can be implemented in a Deutsche Bahn closure window in 2028 at the earliest | |
| 2 | Fourth Rhine bridge for cycling and pedestrian traffic | Proposal of possible locations based on a feasibility study and an analysis of traffic potential | 0.4 km |
| 3 | Examination of 30 traffic light crossings per year for improvements for cycling and pedestrian traffic as part of the city-wide low-voltage LED replacement program | Ongoing process | To be checked |
| 3 | Belderberg/Sandkaule/Bertha-von Suttner Platz intersection | Draft planning expected to be completed by the 4th quarter of 2024 | To be checked |
| 3 | Protective crossing pilot project | Identification of a suitable location for conversion to a safety crossing and initiation of the planning process | 1 Protective crossing |
| 4 | Expansion of Kölnstrasse | One junction is included in the planning | 1 junction |
| 4 | Expansion of Bornheimerstrasse/Hochstadenring | Checking the suitability of the location as part of the expansion planning | 1 junction |
| 4 | Expansion of Siemensstrasse | Examination of location suitability as part of the expansion planning | To be checked |
| 5 | Implementation of bike rack locations from existing plans and entrances via the bike rack reporting platform | Implementation of the framework agreement for at least 1,200 bicycle parking spaces per year | At least 1,200 bicycle parking spaces per year |
| 6 | Updating the winter road maintenance network for cycling | Data collection and evaluation based on the main route network of the cycling network plan has been completed | Keep cycling infrastructure usable in winter |
Conclusion
In the past year, the city of Bonn has made significant progress in the area of expanding and planning further walking and cycling infrastructure. The closing of the gap along the B56, the expansion of the Bornheim-Alfter-Bonn cycle commuter route, the improvement of the situation for cycling and pedestrian traffic along Königswinterer Straße and the establishment of the traffic trial on Adenauerallee are significant milestones. The city of Bonn is also playing a pioneering role throughout Germany with the establishment of four fully automated bicycle parking garages and the creation of 340 secure parking spaces.
With the Radentscheid implementation roadmap, the city of Bonn is revealing for the first time how the citizens' petition is to be implemented in the medium term. The adopted cycling network plan is of particular importance here because, as an internal planning tool, it helps to sensibly link renovation measures and road construction projects with the expansion of cycling infrastructure and to exploit synergies. The city of Bonn also wants to speed up the planning and implementation of safe junctions and the safe design of intersections. Particularly in the case of larger construction projects with complex planning processes, including safety crossings, the lead times and available personnel capacities for planning the infrastructure do not meet the time targets defined in the cycling decision. However, with the definition of uniform standards, including the standard for the installation of at-grade junctions, the Cycling Decision specifications are to be applied and implemented as standard in upcoming road construction projects. In this way, the objectives and requirements of the Cycling Decision are also to be taken into account outside of classic cycling and pedestrian traffic measures.
The current implementation of 40 cycle lanes is the largest and most important project for achieving the objectives of the cycling decision. The future cycle lanes run along central main axes of the city's cycling network and thus contribute to the implementation of important connecting axes between Bonn's districts. The expansion of further cycling infrastructure in the coming years will focus in particular on closing any remaining gaps in the network on the main routes.