Berlin has announced plans for a new high-speed cycle route costing around €58 million through the city centre from Hönow to Spandau.
The aim is for cyclists to use the new route to efficiently reach their destinations while avoiding heavy traffic. The scheme is forecasted to save a potential 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide per-year by persuading 6,700 car drivers to switch to bicycles.
State-owned cycle planning company infraVelo says the route consists of a 23km “eastern route” (Hönow to Tiergarten S-Bahn station) and a “western route” (Tiergarten S-Bahn station to Spandau) of about 15 kilometres.
Berlin Permanent Secretary for Urban Mobility Meike Niedbal said: “The aim of the rapid cycle connections is to create a highly attractive offer for cyclists. Bicycle traffic should be able to move comfortably, safely and quickly here in order to be a real alternative to the car, even over longer distances.”
The 38km East-West route is expected to be fully operational by 2030 with individual sections set to be opened before then, with the journey time end-to-end to be 2.5 hours. Part of the route runs along the Frankfurter Allee, Straße des 17 Juni and Heerstraße.
Gabriele Gluth, Division Manager of infraVelo, said: “Planning and building 100 kilometres of high-speed cycle connections in urban areas with limited space is a challenge. The priority roads of the east and west routes clearly show how a redistribution of traffic areas for more climate protection and safe mobility and attractive cycle paths can succeed.”
To implement it there will be a reduction in the number of car lanes between Tiergarten S-Bahn station and Brandenburg Gate from six to four and parking spaces there will also be converted into a bicycle path.
The city is forecasted to have around 100km of high-speed cycle routes by 2030 according to the Mobility Act.
