Changes in German traffic law

The following is my translation of a page from the Web site of the German Cycling Federation (ADFC)

Finally, better rules for bicycle traffic

Revision of the law on April 1

Date: 26 March 2013

A revision of the StVO [traffic law] will bring about improvements for bicyclists on April 1, 2013. The German Cycling Federation (ADFC) regards the changes in the law as a step in the right direction. “If cities and towns implement the new law, they strengthen bicycle traffic and make it safer,” says ADFC national chairman Ulrich Syberg.

One fundamental change is that sidepaths are no longer the preferred treatment. Bike lanes in the street, already introduced in 1997, will now be placed on an equal basis with sidepaths. In addition, it will be easier to install bicycle streets and advisory bike lanes. Motorists will have to become accustomed to more bicyclists on the roadways.

Whether bicycle traffic is directed to the roadway, to a bike lane or to a sidepath may now be determined based on local conditions. “The assumption that sidepaths installed up to now are always the safest for cyclists will finally be overturned. Cyclists are hard to see on these sidepaths, which are narrow and often in very poor condition, and this is hazardous above all at intersections and driveways. Planning for traffic must from now on reflect the needs of cyclists better. And – cyclists and motorists must act sensibly and respectfully toward one another.”

Mandatory use of sidepaths has, to be sure, not been eliminated, but it should be restricted to where it is necessary. Syberg: “New sidepaths must reflect applicable technical rules. Then they will be so attractive for speedy and comfortable cycling that no mandatory-use law will be necessary.”

In the future, traffic lights for the roadway also will apply to cyclists. Cyclists need no longer be troubled with pedestrian signals and their short green phases. Syberg: “The legislators have recognized that cyclists are driving vehicles, and are not pedestrians; in this way, cycling becomes faster, less stressful and safer.” If cyclists are traveling on sidepaths or bike lanes, then existing bicycle signals apply.

As long as no bicycle signals have been installed on sidepaths which parallel sidewalks, cyclists must still obey the pedestrian signals, up through the end of 2016. Syberg: “This transitional period is too long. We hope that municipalities will convert the signals for bicyclists sooner.”

Along with administrative regulations which have applied since 2009, the new revisions to the law will avoid the need for cyclists to take circuitous routes. Opening one-way streets to contraflow bicycle traffic will now be easier. According to the ADFC, dead-end street signs will from now on indicate whether there is a cut-through for cyclists or pedestrians.

The traffic law was supposed to become more bicycle-friendly in September 2009, but shortly before that, Federal Minister of Transportation Ramsauer ruled the changes impractical, due to errors in form. In the following three years, the Ministry corrected the errors and prepared an entirely new version of the traffic law. The ADFC has assembled and posted details of what was changed, and what this means for cyclists, at www.adfc.de/stvo.