Brandenburg's cycle paths: criticism of the standstill and the urgency of a turn!

Brandenburg's cycle paths: criticism of the standstill and the urgency of a turn!

in Brandenburg there are serious concerns about the bike paths that have been neglected in recent years, according to the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC). Christian Wessel, the state chairman of the ADFC, criticized in an interview with Antenne Brandenburg that the expenses for road construction were almost ten times higher than that for bike paths. Despite the existing 2,000 kilometers of bike paths in Brandenburg, Wessel demands a doubling of the number of kilometers to achieve a real turnaround. Fast measures are required for the future to improve the infrastructure for cyclists, according to his warning.

The Brandenburg Ministry of Transport provides considerable sums for road construction and cycle paths - a total of 447 million euros were invested in 2023, with a further 439 million euros for 2024 - however, the proportion of funds for cycle paths remains worryingly low. The ministry reported that 20 million euros for new construction and maintenance of bike paths on federal and state roads are available in 2024. Minister of Transport Rainer Genilke also emphasized the need to promote mobility and improve the accessibility in rural areas to increase the quality of life.

cycling and environmental protection

A focus of the ministry is also on environmental protection and landscape maintenance when planning new projects. Initiatives to promote biodiversity, such as the use of insect -friendly mowing techniques in green strips, are to be implemented in order to minimize the negative effects on nature. Despite these measures, the existing challenges, especially with regard to the structural implementation of the cycle paths and the very different budget shares, remain evident. Brandenburg faces the urgent task of promoting both road construction and cycle path construction in order to meet the needs of all road users.

The persistent demands of the ADFC meet the plans of the ministry, but it is unclear whether the actual implementations can meet the increasing mobility requirements and the growing awareness of bicycle traffic. An unchanged prioritization could continue to complicate the future problems in traffic, as was underlined by both the ADFC and the Ministry in their current reports. These discussions are not only important for cyclists, but also affect all citizens in Brandenburg.