City of Erlangen Office of Urban Development and Planning. Cycling Safely in Erlangen

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1 City of Erlangen Office of Urban Development and Planning Cycling Safely in Erlangen

2 Getting around in Bavaria s cycling capital Erlangen is the cycling capital of Bavaria. A third of all journeys are made by bike. Few gradients and short distances within the city make the bicycle an important mode of transport for everyone. Cycling is both fun and healthy. We want to help ensure that the many journeys made by bike are completed safely and without accidents. To avoid accidents, considerate and law-abiding cycling is important. This flyer contains the most important information about the bicycle city Erlangen and how you can cycle here in safety and without accidents. I wish you safe cycling Dr. Florian Janik Mayor

3 Mutual consideration in road traffic Safe and considerate cycling in traffic is essential if accidents are to be avoided. 1 of the German Road Traffic Regulation (StVO) lays down the basic condition for this for all road users: 1 Road Traffic Regulation: 1) Participation in road traffic demands constant caution and mutual consideration. 2) Every road user must behave in such a way that no other road user is harmed or endangered, nor impeded or harried more than is strictly unavoidable under the circumstances. Tip: Cyclists should behave with outward self-confidence while thinking ahead and riding defensively. When interacting with other road users, it is safer to seek eye contact to ensure that you are not overlooked.

4 Types of cycle tracks The cycling infrastructure in Erlangen is constantly being further developed. It is adapted in response to revised laws and new knowledge from accident research. One such change are cycle tracks marked parallel to the roadway. These can be either protected lanes or bicycle lanes. Protected lane in Mozartstrasse Bicycle lane in Drausnickstrasse Bicycle lanes are separated from the roadway by a wide line. Their use by cyclists is mandatory and motor vehicles are not permitted to drive over them. Protected lanes are provided where the road is not wide enough for a bicycle lane. They are separated from the roadway by broken lines. In this case, motor vehicles are permitted to drive over them to avoid oncoming traffic, provided cyclists are not impeded. In suitable places, for example, in 30- kph zones, cyclists are instructed to use the roadway. Cyclists on the roadway in a 30-kph zone Note for motorists: Many streets in Erlangen have cycle paths on the sidewalk that are separated from the footpath by their red paving or by a dividing line. Most of these are not wide enough or well enough protected from the road to meet current guidelines and laws. Cyclists are therefore entitled to use the roadway. Cyclists doing this are therefore behaving correctly and you should neither hoot at them, overtake them closely, nor cut across their path.

5 Mandatory use of cycle paths Where can and where must cyclists ride? If one of these three blue signs is erected on a cycle path, use of the path is mandatory. Cyclists are then not allowed to use the roadway. If the cycle path is not marked or has this sign, the roadway can always be used instead. Bidirectional cycle path in Paul-Gossen-Strasse with mandatory use as it meets the guidelines Too narrow sidewalk cycle path in Zeppelinstrasse without mandatory use because it does not meet the guidelines. Cyclists can choose between using the roadway and the cycle path

6 Bicycle traffic in one-way streets Cyclists need a continuous, direct, and convenient network of cycle paths. One way of providing this is to open one-way streets to bidirectional cycle traffic. It is therefore legal to cycle down most one-way streets in the opposite direction. Cyclists can use one-way streets in the opposite direction if the one-way street signs have this supplementary sign, which means open to cyclists: For cyclists using a one-way street open for cycling in the opposite direction, the rule is to yield "right before left" at every junction and to comply with the right of way that applies at the end of the one-way street. One-way street Bohlenplatz: open for cycle traffic in the opposite direction

7 Cycling roads Erlangen's cycle path network currently includes seven cycling roads totaling 5 km in length. Other vehicles are not permitted to use cycling roads unless this is expressly permitted by a supplementary sign. The cycling road Schronfeld provides an important connection between the east of the city and downtown According to the Road Traffic Regulation, roads can be designated cycling roads if bicycles are, or expected to become, the prevailing mode of transport on them. All Erlangen cycling roads are open to motor vehicles with a supplementary sign. Motor traffic and deliveries by motor vehicle have lower priority than cyclists and must not impede or endanger them. If necessary, drivers must reduce speed still further. Cycling roads are an important component of the cycle path network: - They provide cyclists with safe and fast routes through the city. - Riding side by side is permitted. - Nevertheless, cyclists must pay attention to crossing pedestrians and behave considerately.

8 Bicycle traffic in pedestrian precincts In Erlangen, some pedestrian precincts are open to cyclists all day (e. g. Altstädter and Neustädter Kirchenplatz); others, for part of the day during delivery hours from 6:30 pm to 10:30 am (e. g. Hauptstrasse). Cyclists must not impede or endanger pedestrians at any time. Bikes must be ridden at walking pace. Shared use of pedestrian precincts can only work if the weaker users are treated considerately. Pedestrians must therefore be especially protected, not only in pedestrian precincts but also on sidewalks and anywhere else on the road. Cyclists expect considerate treatment by motorists, so all cyclists must be especially attentive to pedestrians. Pedestrian precinct in Südliche Stadtmauerstrasse between Kammererstrasse and Hauptstrasse, open to cyclists all day

9 Further information about cycling safety The Road Traffic Regulation prescribes driving on the right. This applies to cycling, too. Cyclists using cycle paths on the left not only risk a fine but are endangering road safety. Cycling in the wrong direction is the most frequent cause of accidents involving cyclists in Erlangen. Special case: cycling on cycle paths on the left is permitted when they are open to bidirectional traffic. Cycling in the wrong direction is the most frequent cause of accidents involving cyclists in Erlangen Cycle path open to bidirectional traffic in Werner-von-Siemens-Strasse Cycling in the dark without working and adequate lighting is extremely dangerous. Faulty bicycle lamps must therefore be repaired or replaced immediately. Bright lamps must be adjusted correctly to avoid dazzling other road users. Cycling on footpaths is very dangerous for pedestrians. It is therefore prohibited. Exceptions to this are footpaths that are open to cyclists with a supplementary sign. In this case, cyclists must ride at walking pace. Pedestrians have priority over cyclists. Cycling on footpaths is especially dangerous for pedestrians

10 Contacts City of Erlangen, Office of Urban Development and Planning Gebbertstrasse 1, Erlangen Office director: Annette Willmann-Hohmann, phone: Director of Transport Planning Dept.: Dr. Christian Korda, phone: Director of transport planning concepts and mass transit: Martin Grosch, phone: Director of traffic signaling and road planning: Thomas Laubensdörfer, phone: City of Erlangen, Office of Environmental Protection and Energy Schuhstrasse 40, Erlangen Contact for cycling issues: Joachim Kaluza, phone: City of Erlangen, Bylaw Enforcement and Road Traffic Office Nägelsbachstrasse 26, Erlangen Milos Janousek, phone: Erlangen City Police, Traffic Dept. Schornbaumstrasse 11, Erlangen Günther Neubauer, phone: Published by: City of Erlangen, Office of Urban Development and Planning Gebbertstrasse 1, Erlangen, phone: Responsible for content Martin Grosch and editor: Office of Urban Development and Planning Layout and typesetting: Manuela Keller-Denzler Office of Urban Development and Planning Photos: Translation: Office of Urban Development and Planning ADFC Erlangen wordscape Date: November 2016