The “ADFC Bicycle Climate Test,” in which over 200,000 cyclists participated nationwide, rated Frankfurt as Germany’s most bicycle-friendly city among cities with over 500,000 inhabitants. We asked Prof. Martin Lanzendorf, mobility researcher at Goethe University, three questions about the test results.
UniReport: Professor Lanzendorf, as a mobility researcher, should – and can – you be pleased with this accolade? You’re a passionate cyclist yourself. What do you personally enjoy about cycling in Frankfurt?
Martin Lanzendorf: Of course, I’m pleased to live in a city that has been recognized for its mobility policy. But we’re talking about school-style grades, and a 3.5 (roughly equivalent to a “C”) shows that there’s still plenty of work to do to promote cycling in Frankfurt – just like in many other cities. Still, the award acknowledges the progress made since 2019 at the very least, and I’m genuinely happy about that. The most noticeable change for me is the red paint on the asphalt, which clearly marks space as being designated for cyclists. These visual signals communicate the reallocation of space and the push for greater fairness in street usage.
Where do you still see weaknesses in Frankfurt’s cycling infrastructure? What improvements could realistically be made in the short and medium term? It seems the share of cyclists hasn’t risen much in recent years.
Making the city more bicycle-friendly is an ongoing process. For me, the idea of a systemic approach is especially important: If I’m riding on a bike lane, then I should be able to stay on that safe lane all the way to my destination and not be suddenly thrown into dangerous situations with car traffic. It’s ultimately about making cycling safer. And if it’s safe for children, older people, and less experienced cyclists, then bike usage will grow. This means that in many places, new space must be created for safe bike paths – which will likely come at the expense of car parking or lane width for cars. That’s a controversial topic, of course, and often sparks heated debate.
Not everyone can or wants to use a bike for their full journey. What would a well-balanced mobility mix look like – especially in a city like Frankfurt?
Mobility isn’t just about cycling; it also includes walking and public transportation. The latest figures show that in 2023, about 20% of all trips made by Frankfurt residents were by bike, some 20% by bus or train, almost 40% on foot, and just 23% by car. That’s quite remarkable – it shows how clearly the car has lost ground here. Of course, this could shift even more if conditions for cycling, walking, and public transport continue to improve. Maybe someday only one in ten trips in Frankfurt will be made by car. At that point, we’ll need to give even more thought to how people from surrounding areas can travel to Frankfurt without relying on a car to get to work, obtain supplies, or maintain social connections.
