The first bicycle-only highway in Germany is currently under construction. The project will provide the population with up to 100 kilometres of roads without traffic lights, trucks or traffic jams, and is intended for use solely by this environmentally friendly mode of transport. Following its completion, the highway will connect 10 cities in the west of the country including Duisburg, Bochum and four universities. Once finished it is expected that millions of cyclists will make use of this bicycle ‘autobahn’. If all goes according to plan many residents will opt to leave their cars at home and travel to work by bicycle, which would take about 50,000 cars off the roads each day. 

The total budget for the implementation of the project is 180 million euros and the financing will need the support of both the State and the surrounding municipalities. The local governments will also have to meet the costs of maintenance, lighting and snow clearing of the new highway. Nevertheless, the ‘autobahn’ will offer a clean alternative mode of transport in the fight against pollution and global warming.