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Bicycles Laws in Germany are worth knowing. Generally, the laws of Germany are quite similar to those you are used to in the US. E.g., don't kill anyone, ride or drive on the right side of the road, and obey traffic laws as if you were driving a car. In Europe, everybody rides or has ridden bikes and drivers are tolerant of the challenges all bike riders have. Here are a few guidelines.The following is extracted using Google Translations from the actual bicycle laws of Germany. I am not a fluent speaker of German so there may be a mistranslation or simply misinformation. Therefore, I and BicycleGermany LLC have to disclaim the accuracy of the information on this page. This page contains is my best attempt to provide accurate information about bicycle laws in Germany.
The translation is in conversational style not legalese. It is a little easer to read and understand. Any humor below is mine and certainly not a part of German laws. Where I deviate from translating the law, I will try to use [brackets like these.] The Law First of all: You must obey all traffic laws when you are on a street or road. One of the guiding principles of traffic is the Trust Principle; That is to say that drivers (of cars, bicycles, and other motorized vehicles) trust the behavior of other drivers and cyclists. The only exception to this basic rule is bikes or motorized wheelchairs, etc. driven by impaired people. Two or more Abreast Riding: Riding side by side is forbidden on streets and roads. You must ride single file; even in bicycle lanes marked out on the streets. The good news is that a bicycle path one can ride side by side. A bicycle path is at least separated from the road by a concrete retaining wall (Jersey barrier) or a grass strip. Paths also include those delineated on sidewalks where a curb seperates sidwalk path from the road or street. Keep in mind however, that some bike paths are on field roads through farming country. On such paths, (Feldwege), one occasionally sees a car but more often you see tractors and farm equipment. The tractors have the right of way and they typically take up the whole path. Cyclists have to stop and get off the path. Cyclists must behave and obey all traffic laws - including the restriction against turning right on a red light. You must wait until it is green. Arm Signals: You must give a hand signal for all turns. [In America, one signals a left turn by bending the right arm at the elbow and raising the forearm. That does not work in Germany. They point left with their left arm and right with their right arm. The signal for stopping is one arm extended and the forearm pointing down just like in America. It is best to use the arm most likely to be seen by the traffic you want to know that you intend to stop.] Yield to traffic on the right: Unless you are on a major through street with the yellow diamond marking the way (see top picture), you must yield to vehicles and cycles from the right. This is especially true on residential streets where arterials streets are rare. Stop: A stop sign means stop; even if you are from California. [Enough said.] Emergency vehicles have the right of way: An ambulance with lights and horns is not there to pick you up after they have driven over you. They probably have a first to call, first to serve policy. They will keep going leaving you to pick yourself up. Pedestrians always have the right of way. Normally, they cannot hear you coming unless you verbally announce yourself or ring your bell. Pedestrians in crosswalks (Zebrasteifen) always have the right of way even if they can see you. [By the way, at a intersection with only one crosswalk means that you have to cross on that crosswalk. You may not cross wherever you want to. If you are riding with traffic, turn out of the proper traffic lane.] Autobahn: Do not even think you can ride your bicycle on the Autobahn. Bicycles are traffic and must be on the street with traffic riding in the direction of traffic. However, children up to age 9 must be on the sidewalk, not in traffic. Children may ride on the sidewalk up to age 10. [If you are traveling with a child who who must or may be on the sidewalk, you may make an exception and ride on the sidewalk with your children.] If there is a bicycle path, you must use it and not ride on the street or road with traffic. In traffic, keep a safe distance from parked cars that may open their doors in your path at the second you approach. [You cannot share time and space with a car door. Injury will result. The door will probably live, but we cannot say the same for you.] You also need to keep a safe distance from the vehicle (auto or bicycle) ahead of you. [That goes along with what you learned in kindergarten dont hit anybody.] The above said, there are many times when the bicycle path is on the sidewalk. You will see a round blue sign telling you that you should share the sidewalk with pedestrians. If you are on the sidewalk you have to cross intersections with a walk signal. [This is true even if there is no traffic.] On busy arterials, it is common to see both children and adults on the sidewalk. [It may be a little bit against the law but it is a life preservative and probably ignored by the police.] Obey all traffic speed limits. That said, there are special speed limits for bicycles even if the automobile speed limit is greater (however unlikely). The special speed limits are: Never exceed 50 Km/h in built up areas like cities and towns; and never ever exceed 100 Km/h [anytime anywhere]. [A little known law that I have not seen enforced is that when in an intersection, the bicycle speed limit is 10 Km/h. It does make sense to slow down so if a car turns in front of you, you can stop. Remember, you are hard to see, especially in some lighting conditions, in fog, or in a heavy rain.] Alcohol consumption: Do not drink and drive. Do not drink and ride either. If your blood alcohol exceeds the limits below you can be fined and you can lose your drivers license. [Arrest and penalties happen to residents, alien or citizens. I do not know what they would do if you were a short term visitor and your drivers license is from your home country.] The following penalty apply to violation of the alcohol limits:
Note: If you drive impaired by drugs, you will face a fine between 800 and 3,700. Also Note: Police can arrest you if you pedal erratically and you blood alcohol limits exceed .05/1,000. Equipment on Bicycles As sold new, each bicycle must provide the following equipment:
Racing bike exceptions: Racing bikes are not required to meet the above rules. However, if riding at night, all bikes, including racing bikes are required to have lights and reflectors. A Racing bike is defined as less that 12 kg, with drop handlebars, a rim diameter at least 630 mm diameter, and a rim width not more than 23 mm. Mountain bikes are not road bikes so are exempted from certain requirements (unless ridden at night on the roads). [NOTE: I do not know if they are exempt from the equipment list if they are ridden on the roads during the daytime.] A side note it that electrical bicycles (E-bikes) are limited to 400 watts. Said in other words from another section of the law, bicycles (except racing bikes) must have the following at a minimum:
Helmets: Helmets are recommended. The law provides the characteristics of a good bicycle helmet as:
Adults: Helmets improve visibility, if you dont have other equipment, a helmet may be required. Children: Helmets are not mandatory but strongly recommended. Pedestrian Zones: Bicycles can be used on both pedestrian zones if the zone is signed "Fahrrad Frei" or with a graphic of a bike and the word "Frei." Note that in pedestrian zones, the pedestrians have the right of way always. [There may be a special speed limit so ride slowly.] One-way Streets: Normally, bikes cannot be ridden against the flow of traffic on one-way streets. That said, look for signs that indicate an exception for bicycles. For example a graphic image of a bicycle and the word "Frei." One Hand or No Hands Riding: Forbidden. Maintain full control of your bicycle at all times in traffic. [However, you will see kids and some adults doing this.] Hazardous Loading: Carrying items on your bicycle that may cause an issue in traffic is forbidden. Such items include open umbrellas, saws, scythes, or other items that might cause damage or impaired maneuverability. Parking of Bicycles: Bikes must be parked so they dont fall over and impede traffic or damage property. Bikes on Public Transportation: Bikes on public transport may be limited during rush hours. Baby buggies have the right of way. If necessary, bicycles can be required to leave the public conveyance. [See trains for specifics regarding bicycles in trains.] Bicycle trailers: The load may in the transport of loads or persons shall not exceed: 250 kg, 100 kg in continuous inertia, and unbraked 60 kg. Trailers for bikes must be less that 80 cm wide. [Trailers are a pain in the neck to load on trains, busses, and streetcars.] Other laws and suggestions: Many European streets are too narrow for cars to meet side by side and have a car parked in the street. What happens is that cars swerve out over the centerline to drive around parked cars. However, if a car is coming from the other direction and the parked car is in your lane, you must yield to the oncoming car. In other words, you must wait behind the parked car until the oncoming car (or cars) has passed before passing swerving out across the centerline to pass the parked car. This can get interesting when cars are parked on both sides of the road and cars must alternatively swerve in and out and wait and hurry. The locals have it down but it seems like pandemonium to me. When you are about to turn a blind corner, ring your bell to warn other possible riders or pedestrians coming toward you around the corner that you are there. What follows is excerpted with permission from http://pbisotopes.ess.sunysb.edu/bicycle-muenster/bicycling-muenster-2.htm by Gilbert Hanson. Some of the photos are attributed to "Program fahrradfreundliche Stadt Muenster."
In the first picture to the left, the bike lane is on sidewalk level. Bikes must travel in the same direction as traffic. That is you must travel on the right side of the road. The red area is for bikes the gray area on right is for pedestrians. Note the sign. Occasionally, when there is no bike path on the correct side of the street, you will be directed to ride on sidewalk level but on the opposite side of the street where there is a bike path. The second picture to the left shows an intersection where the light is red and cars must stop behind the lower white line. Bicycles can wait between the two dotted white lines. Bicycles enter this area from the red bike path on the right. Note the arrows on bike path and the entrance into the bike waiting zone. Frequently bike paths are indicated by a color change from that where pedestrian have right-of-way. Note third photo on left shows a bicycle path made from red stone but the pedestrian walkway is from gray stone. At the intersection in the lower left, the cars on a red light wait behind the lower white line. Bicycles have a separate left turn lane. Note how the bicyclers enter the left turn lane at a red light for the cars. These pictures may look confusing but they are logical when you are actually on the path. If there is no bike path, think of yourself as if you are in a car. Obey the same rules that cars do. Take an active, aggressive position in traffic (e.g., ride where the cars put their left wheels) and don't dawdle. But when there are bike paths, follow the arrows and the signals put there for bikes. By the way, Germany has millions of bicycle commuters. Most of them would prefer you didn't dawdle in the bike paths either.
If you are riding a train or a streetcar, buy a ticket. That seems simple but once in Germany, it may appear that no one checks tickets. It is possible that is the case on streetcars but on trains the conductor (Schaffner/Schaffnerin), normally will check tickets. They even check the tickets you buy for your bicycle. There are signs posted on many conveyances warning you that if you don't have a valid ticket you have to pay the higher of 40 or double the price of a ticket.
More about biking in Germany can be found in these pages:
• Revised: August 18, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
