Questions and answers about cycling

Viktor and Viktoria answer questions
Questions and answers about cycling
Our new mascots Viktor and Viktoria answer questions about cycling. What are cyclists allowed to do and what do they have to do? Lots of questions and lots of answers...
Viersen police / Mi. Radloff

We have noticed that cycling and cycling accidents interest you.

We are particularly interested in this topic! One of our police priorities here in Viersen is to reduce accidents involving cyclists.

We have noticed that there are some legal uncertainties about what cyclists are allowed to do - and what not.

We would therefore like to take this opportunity in future to try and provide a little more legal clarity and remind everyone that the top priority in road traffic is mutual consideration.

This means, to make it very clear once again: Even if the cyclist may be riding on the wrong side of the road on the cycle path, this is no excuse if an accident occurs when pulling out of a driveway. The cyclist could also be a pedestrian, who may well be coming from the wrong direction!

Nevertheless, cyclists must also obey the rules, and they should do so in their own interest, because they are the weaker ones, and experience shows that collisions with vehicles hurt the weaker ones!

NEW: Watch out: Cycling schoolchildren on the road - where are children allowed to cycle?

Because school starts again next week and many people will be setting off on two wheels again, we would like to remind everyone once again of the rules and especially of mutual consideration in road traffic.

 

Primary school children:

First of all, we think of primary school children, who are (allowed to) cycle to school less often.

The following applies to them:

Children up to the age of ten may ride on the sidewalk. Children under the age of eight must ride on the sidewalk, unless there is a cycle path that is structurally separated from the roadway.

 

Pupils at secondary schools:

The children involved in accidents are almost predominantly secondary school pupils, i.e. cyclists aged between 10 and 14. They are involved in a third of all traffic accidents in the morning hours on the way to school. The remaining accidents occur on the way home from school or during their leisure activities in the afternoon. Around 55% of all road accidents involving children on bikes are caused by the children themselves or are partly caused by them.

 

Accident-prone mistakes include:

  • The children use the wrong lane or illegally use other parts of the road
  • They do not observe the right of way rules
  • They make mistakes when entering the flow of traffic from driveways or from the side of the road.
  • They make driving errors because they are distracted by cell phone use or intensive conversations with cycling classmates.

 

Other road users cause accidents with children on bikes mainly by making wrong turns or failing to give way.

 

The more powerful road users have a special duty of care towards cycling children. Always expect children to make driving errors, which you can manage by driving with foresight and braking carefully to avoid an accident.

 

Parents of cycling children in particular can also do a lot to ensure that their child gets home safely:

 

  • Check your children's bikes regularly, especially working lights and brakes are vital!
  • Convince your children that a helmet is useful because it protects their heads!
  • Practice the new route to school at the weekend with your children, who may be cycling to secondary school for the first time, and make them aware of the dangers. Possibly look for safer alternative routes: The fastest route is not always the safest!
Road cyclists in traffic

Conflicts arise in particular when motorized road traffic or pedestrians have to share the space with racing cyclists. Hardly any other topic is often discussed as controversially as this one.

One thing is quite clear: road cyclists riding in public traffic areas are also normal road users and are therefore bound by all traffic regulations. Special rights are not granted to this group of road users either. They are cyclists with all the rights and obligations associated with this type of road use.

 

And now let's change our perspective:
The fact that racing cyclists are a vulnerable species on public roads can be understood based on the behavior of other road users. You get overtaken, honked at and cut off with less than 50 cm to the side. At the next set of traffic lights, you are then greeted with the friendly words: "Go somewhere else!", although these are the nicer words.
So: incomprehension on both sides. Public road traffic is certainly not a training ground for cycling enthusiasts, but it is also not a place reserved exclusively for motorized traffic.

Motorized road users in particular will have to come to terms with the fact that public road traffic will increasingly be used by weaker road users such as cyclists and pedelec riders in the future - also due to increasing electromobility through pedelecs, e-scooters and co-mobility. 
Pedestrians also have their right to exist there - cyclists should always remember this too! So, the next time you meet the other species, remember: follow the rules, be considerate of each other, because: Things simply run better when you're relaxed!

Which paths are cyclists allowed to use and what are their obligations when doing so
  • If there is an additional sign (1022-10) - a black bicycle on a white background with the addition "free", as we have it in the picture above, then cyclists are allowed to use this path. This is an offer, but not an obligation.

    With this sign, cyclists may, for example, ride on a path against the direction of travel or they may also ride in the opposite direction to the one-way street. The additional sign can also be found on some footpaths or in some pedestrian zones. This means that cyclists may continue to ride their bikes and do not have to dismount or stay on the road. On footpaths and in pedestrian zones, they must note that they are only allowed to ride at walking speed.
     

  • Other cycle paths without signage

    There is also an offer and no obligation for cyclists on the so-called "other cycle paths", where there is no blue sign with a white bicycle. These paths can only be recognized by the fact that cycle lanes or cycle lanes are painted on the road. This can be made clear by a painted bicycle pictogram. This cycle path may only be used on the left-hand side if the above-mentioned additional sign is legible in the direction of travel.

And where do cyclists have right of way on their routes?
On cycle paths and so-called "other cycle paths" with a ford often marked in red, cyclists have the right of way at junctions or exits.

When must cyclists use cycle paths?

Which paths may and which must bicyclists use?

Enraged motorists like to honk at cyclists to get them off the road because, according to the wrong legal opinion of motorists, they should ride on the cycle path.

However, this is very often a misconception and "honking away" does not work either way!

 

Here's why in a nutshell:

  • Only signs with white symbols on a blue background, like the one in the picture above, require cyclists to use the cycle path.

    Exception: If the cycle path cannot be used, it does not have to be used. This may be the case, for example, if the cycle path is illegally parked or icy in winter.
     
  • Cyclists are also required to ride on the right!

    Exceptions: Cyclists must ride on the "left-hand" cycle path against the direction of travel if there is no cycle path on the right and one of the blue signs is legible in the direction of travel of the cyclists!
Eye contact can save lives!

In our self-made video "Eye contact can save lives!" we impressively demonstrate this little lifesaver.

Appeal to parents: Cycle more with your children!

The safety of children in road traffic is a topical issue. In a letter of appeal, the Viersen police road safety advisors address the parents of children in the district of Viersen.

In primary and secondary schools, our children are prepared for participation in road traffic in cycling training. But police work is only the foundation! After cycling education, parents are asked to promote and improve their children's skills.

Choosing the right bike also plays an important role. A bike bought for fashion reasons, which is often highly technical, often does not meet the requirements necessary for the child.
Police chief inspector André Berndt, road safety advisor: "Dear parents! Take your responsibility seriously"

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In urgent cases: Police emergency number 110