Paying attention to each other reduces stress in road traffic and ensures that all road users arrive at their destination more relaxed and accident-free.

This applies to all road users - i.e. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

§ Section 1 of the German Road Traffic Act (StVO) defines the basic rules of the road:

1. Participation in road traffic requires constant caution and mutual consideration.
2. Every road user must behave in such a way that nobody is harmed, endangered or hindered or inconvenienced more than is unavoidable under the circumstances.

Road users overtaking cyclists or pedestrians must keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters. If the lane is too narrow for this safety distance, the driver must wait until the lane is wider or the lane in the opposite direction is clear before overtaking.

Quote from the StVO: "When overtaking, a sufficient lateral distance from other road users must be maintained. When overtaking with motor vehicles of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of small electric vehicles, the sufficient side distance in urban areas is at least 1.5 meters and outside urban areas at least 2 meters. Sentence 3 does not apply at intersections and junctions if cyclists have overtaken motor vehicles waiting there on the right in accordance with paragraph 8 or have come to a standstill next to them."

Cyclists should always pass parked cars at the side of the road with a minimum distance of around one meter. On narrow roads where it is difficult to keep a safe distance from parked cars at the side of the road, it is advisable to ride confidently in the middle.

A large number of accidents between cars and cyclists occur when the car is stationary. According to accident research by insurance companies, more than half of road accidents between cyclists and parked cars are caused by suddenly opened car doors!

A moment of inattention on the part of drivers means that cyclists can no longer take evasive action. The consequences are often serious: in the event of a so-called "Dooring-Unfall", cyclists can sustain extremely serious injuries - whether through a collision with the suddenly opened door or being hit by moving traffic in the course of an evasive maneuver.

Avoiding accidents with the help of the Dutch grip
These accidents could easily be prevented. In the Netherlands, the so-called "Dutch grip" is taught right at driving school. With this little trick, drivers can significantly improve road safety for cyclists.

The grip works simply: people on the driver's side of the car open the car door with their right hand instead of their left. This causes them to automatically turn their body towards the rear-view mirror and look over their shoulder. People on the passenger side also open the door with their left hand instead of their right. In this way, they recognize cyclists better and earlier and do not open the car door.

Cyclists are generally allowed to ride side by side in road traffic as long as they do not obstruct other road users.

An obstruction of traffic exists, for example, if motorists would be able to overtake cyclists riding behind each other in accordance with the rules (with a safety distance of 1.5 meters), but the roadway is not large enough to overtake cyclists riding side by side. Cyclists must then make way and ride one behind the other.

If it is not possible to overtake a person riding alone on a bicycle due to the width of the road or oncoming traffic, motorists must be patient and stay behind the cyclists, who can then also ride side by side.

There is a general ban on stopping on all cycle paths, cycle lanes and hard shoulders. It is not permitted to stop or park here.

It used to be permitted to stop for up to three minutes on hard shoulders. Since the new rules in the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) came into force in April 2020, the absolute stopping ban has also applied here.

Due to its size and location, Bonn's pedestrian zone is considered exemplary in terms of urban development in Germany. All pedestrians should be able to move around here in a relaxed and safe manner, meet, stroll and enjoy culture and leisure.

The pedestrian zone is generally reserved for pedestrians, but so that cyclists can also reach their destination quickly, routes and areas are provided where cycling is permitted.

On the map you can see where cyclists are always allowed (light green marking) and where cycling is permitted at night (between 9 pm and 9 am) (dark green marking).

Even in areas where cycling is permitted, cyclists must always be ready to brake, keep a minimum distance of one meter from pedestrians, ride at walking speed or even dismount when things get tight. Mutual understanding is required.

• Children up to the age of eight must ride on the sidewalk.
• Children aged nine and ten may ride on the sidewalk as well as on the road or cycle path.
• Children from the age of eleven must always use the road or cycle path.
• Children who ride on the sidewalk must push their bikes across road junctions.

The German Road Traffic Act (StVO) regulates the behavior of all road users to ensure that everyone gets to their destination safely and smoothly. Violations of the StVO can be punished with a fine, the amount of which is specified in the so-called catalog of fines . As the StVO applies to all road users, cyclists are also fined for various offenses.

For example, you have to pay if you

• Cycle while drunk,
• ride their bike in the dark without lights,
• riding illegally or too fast on the footpath.

The Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC) has  compiled an overview (opens in a new tab) of these offenses.

As a rule, cyclists must use the cycle path where the blue traffic sign with a white bicycle is displayed. The only exception to the obligation to use the path is if it is clearly impassable, for example due to uncleared snow, parked cars or garbage cans. In such cases, cyclists may move onto the road to avoid the obstacle.

If no blue bicycle sign is visible, cyclists may also use the roadway - even if there is a structurally separated cycle path. These cycle paths are then so-called "other cycle paths" with voluntary use. They are colored red or paved, for example, and thus differ in their surface from the sidewalk. Sometimes there are also bicycle symbols or a marked line or a strip of paving separates the sidewalk into two areas. Cyclists can choose whether they prefer to ride on the road or on the cycle path.

Roadside cycle paths ("kerbside cycle paths") are located next to the carriageway and are separated from it by kerbs or grass verges. They must be used if they are marked with traffic signs 237 "cycle path", 240 "shared footpath/cycle path" or 241 "separate footpath and cycle path".

As a rule, cycle paths may only be used in one direction on the right-hand side of the road, unless use in both directions is explicitly signposted. As drivers do not expect cyclists coming from both directions at junctions and property access roads, such two-way cycle paths are dangerous.

Shared use of footpaths mainly occurs in green areas and pedestrian zones. In this case, cyclists must adjust their speed to that of pedestrians. Otherwise, sidewalks and areas of the pedestrian zone are only permitted for cyclists if this is indicated by the additional sign "Cyclists free".

Although the pedestrian zone is generally reserved for pedestrians, routes and areas where cycling is permitted are provided to accommodate the interests of cyclists.

Cyclists are allowed to use the sidewalk here. As cyclists are on a sidewalk, they must ride at walking pace so as not to endanger pedestrians.

Faster progress thanks to the green arrow: the city is gradually installing signs with a green turning arrow for cyclists at many junctions. At these points, they have to stop briefly, assess the traffic and are then allowed to turn despite the red light. You can find more information  here here.

One-way streets may be used by cyclists in the opposite direction if they are signposted with the additional sign "cyclists free".

Environmental lanes in Bonn are usually bus lanes with an additional clearance for bicycle traffic, recognizable by the additional sign "Fahrrad frei". The new environmental lanes in Bonn are also marked on the road with symbols for buses and bicycles in areas with a solid line.

You can read more about the green lanes, where they already exist and where more are planned  here here.