A Newcomer’s Views on Biking in Bonn
I have been in Bonn for three weeks and have already been almost hit by a bike twice, no more than 10 steps from my front door. There is a spot near my house where cyclists who have just reached the bottom of a hill nearby are riding on the sidewalk. When I step out from my driveway onto the sidewalk, I am directly in their path, and due to the hill, they are going fast! This was a shock to me when I first arrived, and I had to experience a near-miss two times before I realized that cyclists riding on sidewalks are a part of everyday life in Bonn. My job as a pedestrian is to be on the lookout at all times, even in my own driveway.
Biking Basics in Bonn
- In a small city like Bonn, cycling is an important mode of transportation for many people working and living in the city.
- Bonn has over 300 kilometers of cycling routes, consisting of dedicated bike paths, bike lanes on the road, and shared walking and bike paths.
- Biking is essential in Bonn as it has tried to move toward a greater commitment to climate protection and to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.
- Biking also is important for tourists and offers a way for them to explore the birthplace of Beethoven easily.
- Bonn is part of the “Radverkehrsplan” (Bicycle Traffic Plan), aiming to increase the share of cycling in urban mobility by 2030.
Biking Tips
- The bike paths inside the city are very nice, especially the trails that run along the Rhine.
- One of the more popular routes is the RheinRadweg (Rhine Cycle Route), which offers scenic views and connects Bonn to nearby cities on the banks of the Rhine.
- If your commute includes walking and trains, you can often cut your commuting time in half by biking.
Cautions
- The narrow roads and network of crosswalks make driving to work – and to some extent biking as well – a challenge.
- Taking public transit during rush hours can be a rough experience because the trains and buses are overcrowded.
Once the weather gets nicer, I plan to rent a bike and use it to get to class most days since it will save me 25 minutes. This past weekend, I hiked along the Rheinsteig Trail, which is a walking/biking path that runs along the Rhine. The views were stunning, and from one outlook along the hike, you could see the points of the Cologne cathedral. Overall, the options for scenic biking in and around Bonn are excellent, in addition to the practical aspect of commuter biking. This is a part of the city that I overlooked when I first arrived here, and I am looking forward to exploring them.
-Champe M
Citations:
By bike around the city. (n.d.). https://international.bonn.de/services/mobility-and-traffic/cycling/by-bike-around-the-city.php
Ecf. (n.d.). EuroVelo 15 | Rheinradweg. EuroVelo. https://de.eurovelo.com/ev15
Rheinsteig. (2025, January 14). https://www.rheinsteig.de/en/rheinsteig
Team, G. C. (2014, September 3). Award-winning Bonn sets out to become the cycling capital of its region – CityTalk. https://talkofthecities.iclei.org/award-winning-bonn-sets-out-to-become-the-cycling-capital-of-its-region/
