Most important rule: Traffic is not war, cycling is not fighting. Always expect the unexpectet, be tolerant, be friendly and be self-conscious; you have the same rights as car drivers.
You have the same rights, but most motorists think you do not, and some are even willing to commit crimes - insult you, spraying you with wiper fluid, running you off the road - to tell you so. No matter how right you are, cars are always stronger than you.
From a German: Nothing to comment! It is a good and correct explanation. But be careful to ride in streets with tram rails. Do not pass them with a flat angle. This is very dangerous.
Especially in Düsseldorf this is really a topic, because there are so many tram rails. I had a not so nice tram rail accident in Düsseldorf-Gerresheim in my youth.
Just returned from a cycling tour in Germany - one week from Hamburg to Frankfurt. Coming from Australia, it was amazing to see the GREAT cycling infrastructure - in towns, and countryside. And drivers were always very patient and courteous - I was never honked, or yelled at. It's wonderful how everyone just "gets along" - cars, bikes, pedestrians - we could learn something from Germany - I can't wait to go back !
Thank you very much for the information! I've been in Germany for less than two weeks and watching this video has helped me to be less afraid to ride a bike in here.
A) The built-in lights on the third bike are not off as soon as you stop, at least not the rear light. It has a buffer that keeps it running for a few minutes when the bike is stationary. B) The "Straßenverkehrsordnung (STVO)" is the set of rules that tells you how to behave in traffic, the set of rules that determines what parts are required on a vehicle (car or bike) to make it road legal - such as a set of lights - is the "Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung" (STVZO). As soon as any non native-German speaker is able to pronounce this accent-free, they will officially be declared "fluent in German"😉.
Just one thing to add. You are also required to have reflectors on your bike: one white reflector in the front (which can be integrated into your front light), one red reflector in the back (can be integrated into your backlight), yellow reflectors on each pedal, and yellow reflectors on your front and back wheels or alternatively reflective wheels (a white reflective stripe on both sides of your wheels). All these ensure that you can be seen easily from all sides by car drivers during darkness or bad weather.
In Sweden, if you dont have a light on your bike when it is dark you can get a 50 euro fine, 100 euro if both front and back light are missing. Not have a bell on your bike is 30 euro fine. Safety is importent
adding to it: If the sign signaling you are alowed to cycle on the sidewalk is white and says "frei" it is optional if it is blue it is mandatory to cycle on the sidewalk. correct me if I'm wrong though
this is related to general colors and shapes of signs: - *round white with a red border* _prohibits something_ (with nothing else, like the first sign, it prohibits ALL traffic; and thus the "bicycle free" under it is the exception to that sign; lots of variants tell what is forbidden, eg a speed limit, overtaking, or max width, height or weight, or turning left or right), - *blue round signs* _order you to do something_ (eg require bicycles or pedestrians to use that part of the road, or arrows direct you to turn or go straight only), - and *white triangle with red border (corner at the top)* _requires attention to something_ (crossings, animals, construction, traffic light ahead, etc). - a few important signs have different colors or shapes to make them more easily identifiable, eg yield, stop, priority road, oneway and pedestrian crossing. in europe most if not all signs obey these basic rules and have no or as little as possible text to make them "readable" for any language, and not have almost the same color/shape with explaining texts (eg "speed limit xx" or "(no) turn on red") like in the usa.
just started living and working here in Germany and I really love to bike. The rules you explain is very important to me and I learned alot from you guys thank you soooo much..sorry for my english.
I travel every year through Germany with my electric folding bike, and I find out that Berlin is my favorite city to cycle around. Some cities have almost no bicycle lanes and for me living in the Netherlands with bike lanes everywhere it was a little strange, but now I used to it. And In Germany it is always better and more save as in some other European countries The only problem I always have in all the countries is that I am afraid somebody will steal my bike. But in my experience I think bikes are pretty safe in Germany. I really hope I'm right about that 😁 Germany also have a lot of great parks to cycle around
Thank You Jen for the info and short tour. I miss Germany and haven't been back since 1990, but hopefully I will return one summer. Keep up the great work. RICK. ALLES KLAUS.
I live in Germany, and I agree with everything you said. I must say that the rules are the same in every country, but the Cycling Infrastructure is poor in some countries. My favorite country to cycle in is The Netherlands, the second is Belgium. I have cycled with @globalbikinginitiative through Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, France, Austria, Poland, but my worse experience was cycling in Italy. As a Rwandan I must say that we only lack bigger roads and cycling lanes. I also lived in Ghana, but I can't compare. In Africa cycling is for the brave but we use those signs as well however, we also have safe places out of the cities. I have experience for both danger and safe. i have cycled through Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania , Uganda , Rwanda and Burundi.
You didn't mention, that turning left is complicated on bigger streets. You need to go straight, stop behind the crossroads and turn your bike left. By that time the light will change and you will have to wait the whole light cycle to go further.
Actually the blue sign with a bike symbol indicates that it's a bike lane (even if it's a sidewalk) so you HAVE to use it... sometimes there's the "(bike symbol) frei" sign under a blue sign with people walking then you are allowed (but not required) to use that sidewalk with a bike even as an adult.
A sidenote to the "(bike symbol) frei" sign us that bicycles are guests on the sidewalk in that case. Be kind to pedestrians and drive slow. Another thing is that when there are markings at intersections and a visible separation on the sidewalk: That's also a bike lane, but its optional to use and you are still allowed to just drive on the street instead.
The most important: although the traffic culture is on a higher level here than in my home country, one thing is still sure: weak drivers still hit you easily, no matter if you're cycling on a bicycle lane or the road. It's much more up to you, on the bicycle, if you get hit or not, don't trust the others.
just an add-on to the drink and drive point: the threshold for biking is ridiculous high with a 1.6 blood alcohol percentage. so if you did drink some beers at a party it will not really be a problem
it is not automatically a problem, but it CAN become a problem: all these alcohol limits (in a car or on a bike) apply on routine checks and when NOT driving dangerously, eratically or causing an accident. driving in such a way or having caused an accident, you can get a fine for "drunk driving" also when well under those values, and even when completely sober but too tired or with reduced abilities (like after taking some painkillers etc).
Nice content. I just would like to point out that the third bike you showed is not necessarily built for women. As a small kid's father I would choose that one to carry a child seat in the back. It would be easier for me to get on. Greetings!
@@JanGruener Benutze ich aber eh nicht mehr. :D Schau dir mal das YT-Video an: "Fahrradhupe Airzound XL im Test - Sind Fahrradhupen legal?" ab Minute 5:10 ist sehr interessant zu dem Thema. :D
Danke, sehr gut und verständlich erklärt! Ohne funktionierendes Fahrradlicht zu fahren ist in Deutschland auch am Tage verboten, wie auch Klingel, Reflektoren und Schutzbleche Vorschrift sind und bei Polizeikontrollen überprüft und gegebenenfalls wird das Fehlen, oder nicht funktionieren mit einer Geldstrafe belegt.
Die Praxis zeigt allerdings, dass es fast nie Probleme gibt, wenn man bei Tageslicht keine Beleuchtung am Rad hat. Immer wieder haben ich und meine Rennradkumpels Stunk mit den Herren und Damen in blau wegen Nicht-Benutzung von Radwegen, die technische Ausrüstung ist den Ordnungskräften dabei aber völlig egal, obwohl sie dafür meist gleich ein Dutzend Knöllchen verteilen könnten.
If you want to maximize your life expectancy you follow two extra rules. 1. If you are not 100% sure that a car driver sees you, you treat that vehicle as it is going to run you over. There are 20 ways to still be fast and not allow that car to harm you, but "demanding your right of way" is playing with fire. 2. Don't full blast by obstructed views. Hope doesn't protect you from a car or person appearing just before impact.
Trucks unloading stuff or any other cars on the bike lane is a mystery for many German cyclists, too. Last year they increased the fines for that significantly to fight that behaviour even more. Feel free to hint those people that they are misbehaving, but expect stressed parcel deliverymen to react not overly friendly. ;-)
It is very hard for the deliverymen. Where should they park their car in the cities? And should they walk the way with all the parcel from a parking spot far away. It is ok for me that they park next to the companies. And I am glad that I receive all parcels on time.
For e-bikes going faster than 25kmh that is the case. We talk about it here www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#Rules_for_motorized_bicycles_e-bike_and_pedelec_in_Germany
if it's Bike "frei", you have to be aware that you are not allow to ride faster than walking speed. Blue signs with white bike on it are mandatory to use. There is also the blue sign a bike and people on it. The is also mandatory to use and means a sidewalk shared by both parties and usually has not a bike lane painted on it.
Hey thanks for this info. Two of us will be travelling to Baden Baden in October, and we want to do a nice day trip from the town. Can you recommend something? How would I get ahold of you?
Question - normally i can travel from village to village via farmer roads and or bike paths , but there is a land strasse before a village i frequent that has a sidewalk on the right side of the road only. when going home i ride on the sidewalk going the wrong way because i'd rather have a ticket than ride on the land str. where the drivers pass you close doing 100kph . is what i'm doing illegal ?
No, sounds like the separated sidewalk is exactly for that purpose. But check next time, if there are any blue signs at the beginning or end of it that indicate pedestrian and/or bike usage.
Could you or someone else tell me about renting a bicycle for a couple of weeks in Germany. A small trio of friends are travelling from Canada and riding along the Rhine in June 2024. We’re hoping not to bring our bikes, but to rent there. I was told there is a huge bicycle business inside the Frankfurt airport. I don’t know if that’s true or not. I haven’t been able to find anything on it yet, but I will keep looking. If there’s any references you can help us with that would be fantastic. Loved the video. Thank you.
Hi do the same laws apply for E scooters. I'm not from Germany but I know you get main shopping streets e.g. Zeil in Frankfurt, are you allowed to ride there? Also can I for example with a foreign driver's license be able to use this as public transport when i visit?
You are allowed to use headphones as long as they don't impair your hearing to the surrounding traffic sounds. Meaning you should be able to here emergency sirens, honks and other sounds that will keep you safe on the road. So the volume matters 😉
Great video! The Dutch-style bike was invented in Great Britain as the "safety bicycle" in the late 1800s, Raleigh is an old British manufacturer who still make that style of bike today. But since then, the Dutch really adopted the "omafiets"/"opafiets" and made it part of their identity, so to just about everyone, it's a "Dutch bike" and they do make the best ones :-)
You could ask to see the original receipt or check that the bike verification number hasn’t been erased. You usually find this number at the bottom of the frame. But realistically speaking, it is hard to know.
Buy at a shop (and demand a bill) or when buying from a private person do it only with a contract (like buying a car) with all personal data of the seller (check the ID!). They won't want it if the bike is stolen.
Coming from the Netherlands germany is a hellscape when it comes to cycling. Driving next to traffic on poorly maintained municipal roads is the least safe I have felt cycling since decades.
Mostly cycling on the street is safer than on the cycle path, because the bike path is often either in bad condition (cracked surface), too narrow, blocked by parked cars or open car doors, crowded with "blind" pedestrians looking at their phone screens and wearing headphones or with slow cyclists unable to ride a straight line😉.
These rules are pretty standard everywhere. Tbh if people don't know or understand after u explain the rules in the simplest form, those people shouldn't be allowed out in public unsupervised and if a regular cyclist cant follow or obey them, they shouldn't be allowed on anything more than public transport
It would be very helpful for me if someone could please explain how to take a left turn on a main junction of road . Cuz one time when I was waiting in the left turning lane for the signal to go green and at the same time the cars from opposite signal also got a green signal and I showed my left hand signal to take left and went ahead but a the car just stopped and was about dash me and then the driver yelled at me . I would like if someone could please explain me where I went wrong.
We fully understand that the left turn can be confusing. There is two options, either there is a dedicated left turn for bikes with signage and specific lights. Or you use the care lane to turn left. What you describe is quite common that the cars in the opposite direction going straight have green at the same time. You need to wait until there are no more cars until you turn left then, regardless whether you are in a car or on a bike. You can read more about cycling rules in our guide, where we also talk about how to turn: www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#3_How_to_correctly_make_turns_while_cycling_in_Germany
What's the profile of bike thieves in Germany's big cities? Are they opportunists who only steel if you have a shitty lock or leave it unlocked, or are they professionals with big cable cutters, angle grinders and shit? Can one have an expensive bike for daily commuting and not have it stolen (having a good lock, of course)?
We are no experts on bike stealing 😋 but would argue that all types exist. Which is why we have bike theft insurance. We leave our good street commuting bikes locked on the streets, we would never leave our race bikes on the streets out of our sight…hope that answers your question 😉
A lot of cities have designated e-scooter parking areas nowadays. They are usually at popular areas. Otherwise park it the least obstructive on the sidewalk.
I had one question, recently when I was passing from the zebra crossing on my bike a car person honked at me and saying something which I didn't understand. Before that this never happened, usually I stop before crossing and all the car stops to let me pass. So, what I did this time is wrong?
Hi Nitin, well my first question would be, why do you cross the zebra with a bike? I would immediately think that you were riding your bike on the sidewalk (which is not allowed). The zebra crossing should only be for pedestrians. So that would explain why the car was honking at you. With a bike, you need to respect the lights for cars or if available the lights for bikes. Either way, even as a pedestrian, I would never just cross on a zebra without stopping if a car is coming. Just because the car should stop for you, does not mean it actually will. My behavior is, I stop at a zebra crossing, observe the traffic and make sure the cars are stopping. If I can anticipate that they are, I start crossing and wave at the car for a thank you. Hope this helps :)
Maybe because with a bike you dont cross over a pedestrians crossing! If you do that you have to get off your bike and push your bike over the crossing
You may cross zebra with bikes in Germany. But only as a pedestrian you have the right to cross it before the cars. As a cyclist you must wait until street is free.
the reason: on a bike you are much faster than a pedestrian and might appear "suddenly" on the zebra crossing. thus you have no priority while riding the bike (and you usually aren't allowed to ride on a walkway anyway), but you DO have priority as a pedestrian when dismounted and pushing the bike.
You don't need a drivers license to ride a bike in Germany. But you do need one to drive a car. However, if you drive a bike drunk and get caught, you can lose your car driving license.
We write about cycling rules including e-bikes in our guide: www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#Rules_For_Motorised_Bicycles_E-Bike_and_Pedelec_In_Germany
Me too. Until a car driver didn't pay attention to me and brought me down. My thought when I fell: my head! Thank God is nothing major happened, but since then I wear helmet. Always...
No, a license is necessary for a motorized verhicle that is faster than 6 km/h. That is why you may see lots of construction machinery like diggers, bulldozers, rollers.. that have that 6 km/h sticker on their backs. They are no motorized vehicles under German law, any adult can drive them, but they would need lights and a yellow circulating light on their tops. But when you misuse your bike in traffic and show irresponsible behaviour like cycling blind drunk, without light in the dark, against the traffic on a motorway ( where only motorized vehicles that can exceed 60 km/h are allowed) and cause an accident you may be regarded as a person you should not have a driving license at all. In that rare case your license gets suspended.
I would strongly avoid biking in germany unless you have to , most bike lanes are just painted onto the actual car lanes making it extremely dangerous.
Have you had bad experiences or what causes your strong opinion? The painted bike lanes make it much safer than no bike lanes at all. We have been biking for years without any issues, of course, you have to drive attentively and respect the rules 😊
The bike lanes painted on the actual road surface are the safest bike paths there are, because motorists can see you cycling next to them. The most dangerous ones are those that are part of the sidewalk/pavement, because turning motorists can't see you approaching the crossing behind rows of parked cars. Getting hit by turning cars is the way how most cyclists killed in traffic lose their lives.
@@simplegermany Supplement But if you have a driver's license and you ride your bike under the influence of alcohol and you are caught by the police, your license for the vehicle is gone.
I was disappointed to not learn anything unique to Germany. This seemed to be mostly about things you should do on bikes in every country. I was hoping to learn how to use the traffic signals that are specific to bikes and how to do left turns which differ from other countries
Most important rule: Traffic is not war, cycling is not fighting. Always expect the unexpectet, be tolerant, be friendly and be self-conscious; you have the same rights as car drivers.
Well said, totally agree! 😊👍
You have the same rights, but most motorists think you do not, and some are even willing to commit crimes - insult you, spraying you with wiper fluid, running you off the road - to tell you so. No matter how right you are, cars are always stronger than you.
@Anna Müller - I guess you meant "self-confident"?
Very true for every cyclist who tend to cycle any where
From a German: Nothing to comment! It is a good and correct explanation. But be careful to ride in streets with tram rails. Do not pass them with a flat angle. This is very dangerous.
Especially in Düsseldorf this is really a topic, because there are so many tram rails. I had a not so nice tram rail accident in Düsseldorf-Gerresheim in my youth.
Just returned from a cycling tour in Germany - one week from Hamburg to Frankfurt. Coming from Australia, it was amazing to see the GREAT cycling infrastructure - in towns, and countryside. And drivers were always very patient and courteous - I was never honked, or yelled at. It's wonderful how everyone just "gets along" - cars, bikes, pedestrians - we could learn something from Germany - I can't wait to go back !
Thanks for sharing your experience ☺️
Love the way you speak. The clarity in your voice is tops!!
Thank you Suleiman!
I completely agree 💕
Agreed
Thank you very much for the information! I've been in Germany for less than two weeks and watching this video has helped me to be less afraid to ride a bike in here.
A) The built-in lights on the third bike are not off as soon as you stop, at least not the rear light. It has a buffer that keeps it running for a few minutes when the bike is stationary. B) The "Straßenverkehrsordnung (STVO)" is the set of rules that tells you how to behave in traffic, the set of rules that determines what parts are required on a vehicle (car or bike) to make it road legal - such as a set of lights - is the "Straßenverkehrszulassungsordnung" (STVZO). As soon as any non native-German speaker is able to pronounce this accent-free, they will officially be declared "fluent in German"😉.
Just one thing to add. You are also required to have reflectors on your bike: one white reflector in the front (which can be integrated into your front light), one red reflector in the back (can be integrated into your backlight), yellow reflectors on each pedal, and yellow reflectors on your front and back wheels or alternatively reflective wheels (a white reflective stripe on both sides of your wheels). All these ensure that you can be seen easily from all sides by car drivers during darkness or bad weather.
Thank you so much 😊
thank you! I just moved to Cologne from Brazil and I'm still learning all the bike rules. This video helped a lot!
In Sweden, if you dont have a light on your bike when it is dark you can get a 50 euro fine, 100 euro if both front and back light are missing. Not have a bell on your bike is 30 euro fine. Safety is importent
I am German and forgot the basic rules. This video helped so much 👌
adding to it: If the sign signaling you are alowed to cycle on the sidewalk is white and says "frei" it is optional if it is blue it is mandatory to cycle on the sidewalk. correct me if I'm wrong though
this is related to general colors and shapes of signs:
- *round white with a red border* _prohibits something_ (with nothing else, like the first sign, it prohibits ALL traffic; and thus the "bicycle free" under it is the exception to that sign; lots of variants tell what is forbidden, eg a speed limit, overtaking, or max width, height or weight, or turning left or right),
- *blue round signs* _order you to do something_ (eg require bicycles or pedestrians to use that part of the road, or arrows direct you to turn or go straight only),
- and *white triangle with red border (corner at the top)* _requires attention to something_ (crossings, animals, construction, traffic light ahead, etc).
- a few important signs have different colors or shapes to make them more easily identifiable, eg yield, stop, priority road, oneway and pedestrian crossing.
in europe most if not all signs obey these basic rules and have no or as little as possible text to make them "readable" for any language, and not have almost the same color/shape with explaining texts (eg "speed limit xx" or "(no) turn on red") like in the usa.
I like how enthusiastic you are about cycling in Düsseldorf. We usually only complain about the poor cycling infrastructure here :)
Very important: you have to follow the trafficlights too! Not like: 5:33
just started living and working here in Germany and I really love to bike. The rules you explain is very important to me and I learned alot from you guys thank you soooo much..sorry for my english.
I wish, I watched your video before jumping the streets (still traumatized)
Thank you for your video, it gave me the courage to cycle again!!!
Glad you found us then - better late than never 😊
what happened?
This is my favorite video y'all made. Very clear, easy to understand, and it's interesting to know about bike rules in Germany!
I travel every year through Germany with my electric folding bike, and I find out that Berlin is my favorite city to cycle around.
Some cities have almost no bicycle lanes and for me living in the Netherlands with bike lanes everywhere it was a little strange, but now I used to it. And In Germany it is always better and more save as in some other European countries
The only problem I always have in all the countries is that I am afraid somebody will steal my bike. But in my experience I think bikes are pretty safe in Germany. I really hope I'm right about that 😁 Germany also have a lot of great parks to cycle around
I like the practical demonstration of video on the road instead of just telling theoretical rule.
Thank You Jen for the info and short tour. I miss Germany and haven't been back since 1990, but hopefully I will return one summer. Keep up the great work. RICK. ALLES KLAUS.
I live in Germany, and I agree with everything you said. I must say that the rules are the same in every country, but the Cycling Infrastructure is poor in some countries. My favorite country to cycle in is The Netherlands, the second is Belgium. I have cycled with @globalbikinginitiative through Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, France, Austria, Poland, but my worse experience was cycling in Italy. As a Rwandan I must say that we only lack bigger roads and cycling lanes. I also lived in Ghana, but I can't compare. In Africa cycling is for the brave but we use those signs as well however, we also have safe places out of the cities. I have experience for both danger and safe. i have cycled through Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania , Uganda , Rwanda and Burundi.
Thanks for sharing your insights! 🙂
You didn't mention, that turning left is complicated on bigger streets. You need to go straight, stop behind the crossroads and turn your bike left. By that time the light will change and you will have to wait the whole light cycle to go further.
Very important one I just discovered in my first ride in Berlin while watching others:))
Subscribed. Thanks for your time and research, I am getting good info from you. So again, thank you and Best wishes
Actually the blue sign with a bike symbol indicates that it's a bike lane (even if it's a sidewalk) so you HAVE to use it... sometimes there's the "(bike symbol) frei" sign under a blue sign with people walking then you are allowed (but not required) to use that sidewalk with a bike even as an adult.
A sidenote to the "(bike symbol) frei" sign us that bicycles are guests on the sidewalk in that case. Be kind to pedestrians and drive slow. Another thing is that when there are markings at intersections and a visible separation on the sidewalk: That's also a bike lane, but its optional to use and you are still allowed to just drive on the street instead.
Ich kann kaum glauben, dass ich diesen Kanal gefunden habe!
The most important: although the traffic culture is on a higher level here than in my home country, one thing is still sure: weak drivers still hit you easily, no matter if you're cycling on a bicycle lane or the road. It's much more up to you, on the bicycle, if you get hit or not, don't trust the others.
Thank you for the Info. I'm buying my first bike because i'm going to work in the night shift where there will be no more Tram rides.
just an add-on to the drink and drive point: the threshold for biking is ridiculous high with a 1.6 blood alcohol percentage. so if you did drink some beers at a party it will not really be a problem
it is not automatically a problem, but it CAN become a problem:
all these alcohol limits (in a car or on a bike) apply on routine checks and when NOT driving dangerously, eratically or causing an accident.
driving in such a way or having caused an accident, you can get a fine for "drunk driving" also when well under those values, and even when completely sober but too tired or with reduced abilities (like after taking some painkillers etc).
Through this video, I learn the purpose of those plastic things on the wheels, which is the mud pad :))))))
You should overtake from the left... otherwise, you can hit an expensive derailleur :D
found this video as i'm new to biking here in Germany . thanks
Glad it was helpful!
@@simplegermany thanks a lot
Nice content. I just would like to point out that the third bike you showed is not necessarily built for women. As a small kid's father I would choose that one to carry a child seat in the back. It would be easier for me to get on. Greetings!
Fair point Rafael! Thanks for your insight 🙂
I loved cycling in Germany 🇩🇪. I did 40 years ago. I want to do it again. Any suggestion on a tour group I can learn about
Que video tan útil ! muchas gracias ☺️🙏🏻!
E-bikes are also very popular in Germany.
I like it. 👍🏼 keep moving ahead 🙏🏼
7:06 Using a Airzound horn is a good thing in german cities.
That's not allowed in Germany. You may only have light sounding bells at the bicycle.
@@JanGruener Ich nehme lieber ein 20€ Strafzettel entgegen als umgefahren zu werden. :D
@@sausagefruit7690 Ja verstehe ich. 😆
@@JanGruener Benutze ich aber eh nicht mehr. :D
Schau dir mal das YT-Video an: "Fahrradhupe Airzound XL im Test - Sind Fahrradhupen legal?" ab Minute 5:10 ist sehr interessant zu dem Thema. :D
Cube and Trek bikes are awesome!
Danke, sehr gut und verständlich erklärt!
Ohne funktionierendes Fahrradlicht zu fahren ist in Deutschland auch am Tage verboten, wie auch Klingel, Reflektoren und Schutzbleche Vorschrift sind und bei Polizeikontrollen überprüft und gegebenenfalls wird das Fehlen, oder nicht funktionieren mit einer Geldstrafe belegt.
Die Praxis zeigt allerdings, dass es fast nie Probleme gibt, wenn man bei Tageslicht keine Beleuchtung am Rad hat. Immer wieder haben ich und meine Rennradkumpels Stunk mit den Herren und Damen in blau wegen Nicht-Benutzung von Radwegen, die technische Ausrüstung ist den Ordnungskräften dabei aber völlig egal, obwohl sie dafür meist gleich ein Dutzend Knöllchen verteilen könnten.
Ich mag wie du "Zack" sagst;)
If you want to maximize your life expectancy you follow two extra rules. 1. If you are not 100% sure that a car driver sees you, you treat that vehicle as it is going to run you over. There are 20 ways to still be fast and not allow that car to harm you, but "demanding your right of way" is playing with fire. 2. Don't full blast by obstructed views. Hope doesn't protect you from a car or person appearing just before impact.
Trucks unloading stuff or any other cars on the bike lane is a mystery for many German cyclists, too. Last year they increased the fines for that significantly to fight that behaviour even more. Feel free to hint those people that they are misbehaving, but expect stressed parcel deliverymen to react not overly friendly. ;-)
It is very hard for the deliverymen. Where should they park their car in the cities?
And should they walk the way with all the parcel from a parking spot far away. It is ok for me that they park next to the companies. And I am glad that I receive all parcels on time.
Awesome! great content, very helpful.
Thanks, it helps
I love this video
I stay in Düsseldorf too!
I heard somewhere that you need a number plate and insurance in Germany but I haven't seen it on these videos.
For e-bikes going faster than 25kmh that is the case. We talk about it here www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#Rules_for_motorized_bicycles_e-bike_and_pedelec_in_Germany
I liked this video.
if it's Bike "frei", you have to be aware that you are not allow to ride faster than walking speed.
Blue signs with white bike on it are mandatory to use.
There is also the blue sign a bike and people on it. The is also mandatory to use and means a sidewalk shared by both parties and usually has not a bike lane painted on it.
Please make a video on traveling in trains with your bycycle.
Thanks for your suggestion. We will add it to our list of possible ideas in the future ☺️
Nice and udeful
Danke schund es ist ser vigtige
Hey thanks for this info. Two of us will be travelling to Baden Baden in October, and we want to do a nice day trip from the town. Can you recommend something? How would I get ahold of you?
Do you have to get off the bicycle when going over a pedestrian sidewalk?
As an adult you are not allowed to cycle on the pedestrian sidewalk. So yes, you should get off the bike and push it.
@@simplegermany Thank you
Question - normally i can travel from village to village via farmer roads and or bike paths , but there is a land strasse before a village i frequent that has a sidewalk on the right side of the road only.
when going home i ride on the sidewalk going the wrong way because i'd rather have a ticket than ride on the land str. where the drivers pass you close doing 100kph . is what i'm doing illegal ?
No, sounds like the separated sidewalk is exactly for that purpose. But check next time, if there are any blue signs at the beginning or end of it that indicate pedestrian and/or bike usage.
Can you do a video about dress according to the weather while cycling
Could you or someone else tell me about renting a bicycle for a couple of weeks in Germany. A small trio of friends are travelling from Canada and riding along the Rhine in June 2024. We’re hoping not to bring our bikes, but to rent there. I was told there is a huge bicycle business inside the Frankfurt airport. I don’t know if that’s true or not. I haven’t been able to find anything on it yet, but I will keep looking. If there’s any references you can help us with that would be fantastic. Loved the video. Thank you.
Hi do the same laws apply for E scooters. I'm not from Germany but I know you get main shopping streets e.g. Zeil in Frankfurt, are you allowed to ride there? Also can I for example with a foreign driver's license be able to use this as public transport when i visit?
Do you mind providing the item and model number for the locks that you purchase?
We link to it in the description 😊
About "if you do it again, you will get a fine". How would they know? Since bikes don't have a license plate, how would they know?
Is it okay to use earphones when cycling? Especially for Google Maps, so that we don't use the phone when cycling
You are allowed to use headphones as long as they don't impair your hearing to the surrounding traffic sounds. Meaning you should be able to here emergency sirens, honks and other sounds that will keep you safe on the road. So the volume matters 😉
Get a phone holder and attach it to your handlebar. Headphones are not forbidden but are dangerous.
@@AsterFoz I will do thank, thank you 😁
Thank YOU 😊
Hooooohu😊
Great video! The Dutch-style bike was invented in Great Britain as the "safety bicycle" in the late 1800s, Raleigh is an old British manufacturer who still make that style of bike today. But since then, the Dutch really adopted the "omafiets"/"opafiets" and made it part of their identity, so to just about everyone, it's a "Dutch bike" and they do make the best ones :-)
How to know if the cycle is not stolen in germany before buying form someone ?
You could ask to see the original receipt or check that the bike verification number hasn’t been erased. You usually find this number at the bottom of the frame. But realistically speaking, it is hard to know.
@@simplegermany THANKYOU ♥️
Buy at a shop (and demand a bill) or when buying from a private person do it only with a contract (like buying a car) with all personal data of the seller (check the ID!). They won't want it if the bike is stolen.
But you are talking about commuting, i want to know if there are routes to endurance, speed, roads without much traffic
UND Licht!
what if im new and still afraid to ride on the road, could i ride on the sidewalk dor the 1st couple of times im out?
Coming from the Netherlands germany is a hellscape when it comes to cycling. Driving next to traffic on poorly maintained municipal roads is the least safe I have felt cycling since decades.
Do we need to follow traffic rules if we are riding on the road (when there is no cycle lane )?
Of course!
Any cycling clubs in Berlin?
Try the Rapha Clubhouse 😊
My mate fell into a canal cycling drunk.
What about folding bike? Is it allowed as well?
Yes, folding bikes are fine and not that uncommon in Germany.
Hello Jen! What lock is that you are recommending? Thanks
Hey Imam, we use and trust the ABUS Bordo Big. Here is our affiliate link: amzn.to/2MQr0EH
So basically when there is no cycling path on the streets, you can just cycling on the streets with the cars? That's quite scary.
Yes, well for me as a German I don't find it scary, but I grew up with it. Jen also doesn't mind 😅
@@simplegermany i see, okay vielen Dank!
Mostly cycling on the street is safer than on the cycle path, because the bike path is often either in bad condition (cracked surface), too narrow, blocked by parked cars or open car doors, crowded with "blind" pedestrians looking at their phone screens and wearing headphones or with slow cyclists unable to ride a straight line😉.
Jen you definitely need to pimp up your bike for stvo. Where is your bell
Well spotted! 😉 I didn't have it back then.
These rules are pretty standard everywhere. Tbh if people don't know or understand after u explain the rules in the simplest form, those people shouldn't be allowed out in public unsupervised and if a regular cyclist cant follow or obey them, they shouldn't be allowed on anything more than public transport
It would be very helpful for me if someone could please explain how to take a left turn on a main junction of road . Cuz one time when I was waiting in the left turning lane for the signal to go green and at the same time the cars from opposite signal also got a green signal and I showed my left hand signal to take left and went ahead but a the car just stopped and was about dash me and then the driver yelled at me . I would like if someone could please explain me where I went wrong.
We fully understand that the left turn can be confusing. There is two options, either there is a dedicated left turn for bikes with signage and specific lights. Or you use the care lane to turn left. What you describe is quite common that the cars in the opposite direction going straight have green at the same time. You need to wait until there are no more cars until you turn left then, regardless whether you are in a car or on a bike. You can read more about cycling rules in our guide, where we also talk about how to turn: www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#3_How_to_correctly_make_turns_while_cycling_in_Germany
Do you have a link for purchasing the covers for the wheels ?
What do you mean exactly by the covers for the wheels? 😇
If you mean mudguards/fenders, those are available in each and every decent bike store.
Hello.. If we get fined for improper crossing of road while cycling how should we pay the amount. Could you please comment the way.
It should state on the fine how you should pay it.
What's the profile of bike thieves in Germany's big cities? Are they opportunists who only steel if you have a shitty lock or leave it unlocked, or are they professionals with big cable cutters, angle grinders and shit? Can one have an expensive bike for daily commuting and not have it stolen (having a good lock, of course)?
We are no experts on bike stealing 😋 but would argue that all types exist. Which is why we have bike theft insurance. We leave our good street commuting bikes locked on the streets, we would never leave our race bikes on the streets out of our sight…hope that answers your question 😉
If your bike has narrow tyres, like Jen's, best to take care how to cross tramlines, especially if cycling fast, or there may be adverse consequences
Fully agree! We missed pointing that out 🙈
What Ivonne's bike brand?
It’s called Cube. She bought it at a Lucky Bike shop.
I have another question for e scooter though. So I see an area for parking bikes in front of shops. Is it ok if I park my scooter there also?🤣
A lot of cities have designated e-scooter parking areas nowadays. They are usually at popular areas. Otherwise park it the least obstructive on the sidewalk.
@@simplegermany danke！
I am 1000th ❤️ 😅👋🏻
👍👍👍👍👍
does it require a license to ride cycle there?
Hey Ayush, no you don’t need a drivers license to cycle in Germany 🙂
I had one question, recently when I was passing from the zebra crossing on my bike a car person honked at me and saying something which I didn't understand. Before that this never happened, usually I stop before crossing and all the car stops to let me pass. So, what I did this time is wrong?
Hi Nitin, well my first question would be, why do you cross the zebra with a bike? I would immediately think that you were riding your bike on the sidewalk (which is not allowed). The zebra crossing should only be for pedestrians. So that would explain why the car was honking at you. With a bike, you need to respect the lights for cars or if available the lights for bikes. Either way, even as a pedestrian, I would never just cross on a zebra without stopping if a car is coming. Just because the car should stop for you, does not mean it actually will. My behavior is, I stop at a zebra crossing, observe the traffic and make sure the cars are stopping. If I can anticipate that they are, I start crossing and wave at the car for a thank you. Hope this helps :)
Maybe because with a bike you dont cross over a pedestrians crossing! If you do that you have to get off your bike and push your bike over the crossing
You may cross zebra with bikes in Germany. But only as a pedestrian you have the right to cross it before the cars. As a cyclist you must wait until street is free.
the reason: on a bike you are much faster than a pedestrian and might appear "suddenly" on the zebra crossing. thus you have no priority while riding the bike (and you usually aren't allowed to ride on a walkway anyway), but you DO have priority as a pedestrian when dismounted and pushing the bike.
My germanic ex preferred biking to driving a car so he could extend his germanic buthox into the faces of passers by
I don't understand driver's licences is it some kind of bike drivers license or ur car drivers license ???
You don't need a drivers license to ride a bike in Germany. But you do need one to drive a car. However, if you drive a bike drunk and get caught, you can lose your car driving license.
What about ebike laws?
We write about cycling rules including e-bikes in our guide: www.simplegermany.com/cycling-rules-in-germany/#Rules_For_Motorised_Bicycles_E-Bike_and_Pedelec_In_Germany
@@simplegermany awesome I will check it out. Thank you!
So you need a drivers license to drive a bike?
No, you don’t 🙂 you just need to be aware of the traffic rules.
Danke :)
which license are you pertaining to?
You do not need a drivers license to ride a bike, you only need to be aware of the general traffic rules.
thanks! i'm planning to buy one soon! keep safe!
I will never we’re a helmet on my bike lol
Me too. Until a car driver didn't pay attention to me and brought me down. My thought when I fell: my head! Thank God is nothing major happened, but since then I wear helmet. Always...
Auch Rennräder müssen eine Klingel haben!
In der grauen Theorie schon, aber kaum eins hat eine.
👍👍👍
Do we need a driver's license for riding bicycle in Germany?
No, you don’t 🙂
@Stephan Schlösser That is true! I also had such a training and test day in school :)
No, a license is necessary for a motorized verhicle that is faster than 6 km/h. That is why you may see lots of construction machinery like diggers, bulldozers, rollers.. that have that 6 km/h sticker on their backs. They are no motorized vehicles under German law, any adult can drive them, but they would need lights and a yellow circulating light on their tops. But when you misuse your bike in traffic and show irresponsible behaviour like cycling blind drunk, without light in the dark, against the traffic on a motorway ( where only motorized vehicles that can exceed 60 km/h are allowed) and cause an accident you may be regarded as a person you should not have a driving license at all. In that rare case your license gets suspended.
You dont die in the street .. Ambulance is there too fast for that :P
I would strongly avoid biking in germany unless you have to , most bike lanes are just painted onto the actual car lanes making it extremely dangerous.
Have you had bad experiences or what causes your strong opinion? The painted bike lanes make it much safer than no bike lanes at all. We have been biking for years without any issues, of course, you have to drive attentively and respect the rules 😊
The bike lanes painted on the actual road surface are the safest bike paths there are, because motorists can see you cycling next to them. The most dangerous ones are those that are part of the sidewalk/pavement, because turning motorists can't see you approaching the crossing behind rows of parked cars. Getting hit by turning cars is the way how most cyclists killed in traffic lose their lives.
Do you need a driver's license to ride a bicycle in Germany?
Hey @Mi 👋, you don’t need a drivers license to ride a bicycle in Germany. You just need to be aware of the cycling and some traffic rules 🙂
@@simplegermany
Supplement
But if you have a driver's license and you ride your bike under the influence of alcohol and you are caught by the police, your license for the vehicle is gone.
Zack!
I was disappointed to not learn anything unique to Germany. This seemed to be mostly about things you should do on bikes in every country. I was hoping to learn how to use the traffic signals that are specific to bikes and how to do left turns which differ from other countries