RAVINA research project
Safe cycling outside built-up areas too
Examples of the guidance of cycle traffic outside built-up areas // Collage Road Traffic Planning and Road Traffic Engineering teaching and research area
Currently, many rural areas in Germany lack continuous, attractive and safe cycle routes that link not only individual neighbourhoods but also central locations. Out-of-town cycle routes are absolutely essential for these connecting functions.
To date, a large number of extra-urban cycle routes have been designated on inter-regional roads where there is no dedicated cycle infrastructure and cyclists are exposed to motor vehicle traffic at high permitted speeds in mixed traffic. This has a negative impact on the subjective and objective safety and comfort of cyclists. Even in the long term, it will not be possible to construct roadside cycle paths on all local roads - high investment costs and sustainability considerations speak against this. Alternative solutions are therefore required.
Municipal survey
With the help of a nationwide survey, the current status quo of cycling outside urban areas is to be determined. The results of the survey can help to make planning easier and to bring out-of-town cycling more effectively in the future. Cities, municipalities and districts are invited to take part in the 25-minute survey until the end of February.
The aim of the project is to bring cycling more quickly to the countryside nationwide through seamless networks. To this end, a guideline is to be developed to support local authorities, districts and road construction authorities in the federal states in the designation and upgrading of extra-urban cycle routes across routes and junctions and to contribute to the quick and efficient provision of the densest, safest and most attractive cycle networks possible, including in extra-urban areas.
Identify alternatives
If it is not possible or sensible to construct roadside footpaths and cycle paths on rural roads, taking all effects into account, an alternative could be, for example, extra-urban cycle paths, upgraded farm tracks or even design or traffic law measures on individual sections of rural roads, which, together with existing cycle infrastructure and tourist cycle paths, create a comprehensive cycle network.
As joint partners, the Department of road traffic planning & engineering at the University of Wuppertal, headed by Prof. Dr Jürgen Gerlach, and the German Institute of Urban Affairs gGmbH are investigating what alternative options exist to roadside footpaths and cycle paths on rural roads and how these could be implemented. The study examines which routes outside urban areas could be considered for the elimination of deficiencies and which measures could be used to make the analysed routes and junctions outside urban areas part of a safe and high-quality cycling network.
The recommendations are derived, among other things, from a nationwide accident analysis and the analysis of existing example networks in rural areas, specially conducted surveys such as on-site investigations, interviews and workshops with experts as well as experience already gained from pioneering projects.
The resulting guidelines are intended to help local authorities to close the gaps in the out-of-town cycle networks by means of rapid and space-saving measures.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.
