The question of where a city ranks in the rankings of the General German Bicycle Club is only an approximate indication. The surveys, which take place every two years throughout Germany, do not even claim to be representative. This is due to the fact that anyone who wants to can participate. As a rule, the participants are only on a certain part of the trail network on their bikes – if one is available.
This results in a subjective picture, which, however, gains such significance due to the relatively high number of evaluations that insights can be gained from it. This applies, for example, to the state capital Wiesbaden, where 1253 interviews were conducted.
Hardly any "sense of security" left
The extent to which the 291,000 inhabitants have been suffering for years from an ideological transport policy is exemplified by the massive complaints of cyclists about "driving in mixed traffic" and the resulting, hardly existing "feeling of safety". In both categories, Wiesbaden is only slightly above a "poor" rating of 4.7. The Wiesbaden head of traffic has managed to deeply annoy motorists as well as cyclists and users of local public transport.
In such cities, conflicts between motorists and cyclists are usually due to the fact that traffic density is increasing, but the available space is not. Anyone who draws the consequence of creating cycle paths by having them painted on narrow roads without further ado is doing neither motorists nor cyclists any favours – on the contrary. It triggers conflicts and dangers for both sides and further worsens the already irritable climate between the different road users.
Wiesbaden is a blatant negative example, but not an isolated case. The test of the bicycle club can also serve to learn from the mistakes of other municipalities. So it is simply a matter of reminding people of the rules that apply to everyone. Cyclists who are on the road in pedestrian zones are often accosted by passers-by who do not know that not only delivery traffic but also bicycles are allowed there at certain times.
The same applies to the one-way streets, which may be used by cyclists in the opposite direction. If this is not clear to motorists, it can end badly. Where transport politicians lose the sense of such self-evident facts, the triumph of ideology begins.