Wettringen: Bicycle-friendly role model for rural mobility!

Wettringen: Bicycle-friendly role model for rural mobility!

Commuting by bicycle is very popular in Wettringen, especially in the western part of the Steinfurt district, where the infrastructure for cyclists is well developed. Dietmar Roling, the head of the public order office in Wettringen, shows with his daily 20-kilometer commute how easy it can be to use a bicycle in everyday life. Wettringen has established itself as a pioneer when it comes to cycling, with well-designed cycle paths and excellent connections to the town center.

As part of this infrastructure there is the “RadBahn”, a cycle highway that is built on an old railway embankment and serves as a feeder to the train stations in the district. Cycling huts also offer protection from the weather and invite you to take a short break with seating. Cycling is not just part of the leisure activities in Wettringen, but an integral part of everyday life.

Bicycle share and culture

Statistics show that a third of trips in Wettringen are made by bicycle - a remarkable figure when compared to the meager 6% in rural areas of Germany. Mayor Berthold Bültgerds emphasizes the importance of cycling and at the same time recognizes the necessity of car journeys.

The cycling culture is supported not least by a committed community of citizens. Prof. Dr. Jana Kühl, an experienced social geographer, emphasizes that the bicycle should be part of a mobility chain in order to integrate the use of trains and car sharing. This concept could prove to be the key to greener mobility.

The future of cycling

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute estimate that a bicycle share of 45% is realistic for journeys of up to 30 kilometers, which could lead to significant CO2 reductions. Cycling also remains important in rural areas, as dependency on cars is often more pronounced here. Lower Saxony's support for municipalities in the development of cycling concepts shows that the importance of the topic has been recognized. Wettringen has been working on a cycle path network plan for 20 years to identify and remedy any weak points.

A look beyond the borders of Wettringen shows that the topic of bicycle-friendliness is becoming increasingly important in Germany overall. According to the 2024 bicycle climate test, an average rating of 3.92 was achieved, down slightly compared to 2022. While large cities such as Frankfurt am Main and Hanover receive better ratings, smaller cities are experiencing short-term improvements but have long-term catching up to do. Tübingen and Auerbach in Vogtland, for example, were praised for their exemplary bicycle concepts.

Overall, it can be seen that the efforts of the federal and state governments, supported by the commitment of local authorities, are having an impact. However, the challenges remain significant and it remains to be seen how many communities can pick up the momentum and further promote their cycling. Wettringen seems to be on the right track to continue to act as an exemplary cycling community.