Cycling network NRW

red signposts for everyday traffic

The NRW cycling network has been a project run by the North Rhine-Westphalian state government since 2001, which serves to connect the cities and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia with one another through environmentally friendly transport. Uniform signage throughout the country is used to make it easy to find and recognize the signs.

The network has a total length of around 13,800 km and has already been implemented in most parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. With the completion in Cologne and in the Ennepe-Ruhr district , the implementation of the original planning is complete. Like any transport network, however, this also needs to be continuously adapted to the development of transport needs.

Quality of the cycle routes

new signposting combined with old (small) R-16 and R-17

Most of the cycle routes are quickly navigable thanks to waterproof surfaces.

The routing and traffic situation of the routes show regional differences. In most parts of the state, the network is everyday-oriented, i.e. expanded for shopping, school and commuter traffic. The extent to which the thus signposted routes with few detours lead over quiet streets and paths or consist of cycle lanes and other roadside cycle facilities , traffic-calmed main roads or city ​​squares with a speed limit of 20 km / h , depends on the respective topography (flat, hilly or mountainous) as well as on the local authorities involved. Also bicycle roads are possible as network elements. The same applies to the aspect of how consistently attention was paid to good surface quality when choosing routes and rectifying defects and how well road-accompanying and road-independent cycle paths of this national main network are maintained.

In the Münsterland, the network of the previously created Münsterland cycle park was initially taken over unchanged, which was designed according to completely different aspects, namely to show recreational cyclists the rural beauty and sights of the Münsterland. Here the routes are consistently guided on back roads and farm roads, but sometimes make detours even where straight, quiet connections are actually available.

In the Rhineland, pedestrian areas were included in individual places without adapting the traffic regulation in the sense of opening it up to bicycle traffic.

information

Junctions are equipped with an overview map. The direction signs indicate the next junctions.

The network can not only be used by the general public in the form of signs. In the construction phase, a detailed map with a registered cycle network was issued for each district and each major city as soon as the signposting was set up. All network information is now available on the Internet via the NRW cycle route planner . Conversely, every user can easily contribute to maintaining the network. To make error messages easier, each signpost can be identified by a number. A telephone number is attached to each, under which reports are accepted.

Part of the cycle path system is a junction system that was adopted based on the Dutch and Belgian models. Many network nodes at which several cycle paths cross have been given a number that is attached to the sign post of the direction signs. The direction signs are provided with additional signs that indicate which network node will be reached next via the cycle path. In addition, each network node should have an information board with a map.

precursor

old R-way network (relatively small signposting)

Before the cycle network, there were already numerous cycle paths in North Rhine-Westphalia , as the term suggests, purely tourist-oriented.

Bike trails

The network of R-ways that was created in the 1980s was planned by the two landscape associations and then largely installed by the municipalities. It was never fully implemented. In particular, the care and maintenance of the R network has caused problems. Sometimes you still come across the old signs (hexagonal, green-framed signs).

In some cases, for example in the Höxter district, this old network was adopted as the basis for the NRW cycling network.

Cycling network from below

Inspired by this inconsistent R-Netz and the partly honeycomb-shaped signs, the cycle traffic network was developed from below in Paderborn: While motorized traffic provided signposts at intersections that provided information about the destination, direction and distance, this was not the case with non-motorized traffic. Derived from the system of signposts that already existed in the Netherlands, the bicycle traffic network from below was created in 1996/7 , which provided a participatory approach for those who were to use the network afterwards. This was in 1998 by the parliamentary group of Alliance 90 / The Greens in Mutlimediawettbewerb sense formation awarded the first prize.

Remarks:

• An early first approach to planning the path network still relied on a structure of adjacent honeycombs, similar to the early sign shape. A local bike enthusiast on site should be responsible for his honeycomb and identify suitable paths, include them in the network of paths and define points of contact with neighboring honeycombs. This narrow, restricted approach has been discarded in favor of a more open, flexible approach.
• The project was not limited to the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, but - as it is largely implemented today with uniform signposts - intended for the entire federal territory.
• The choice of the project title was difficult: Because the project should clearly stand out from both road-side cycle paths that are subject to mandatory use and purely touristic, local circuits for the evening after work.

Affiliated themed routes

Although the practical traffic orientation to the needs of everyday cyclists is the outstanding performance of the NRW cycling network, the integration of numerous themed routes takes tourist concerns into account:

1000 fire tour 100 castles route 2-country route 3 stream route Ahr cycle path Almeradweg BahnRadRoute Hellweg-Weser BahnRadRoute Teuto-Senne BahnRadRoute Weser-Lippe Bike Arena Sauerland D routes Diemel cycle path Dortmund-Ems Canal Route Ederauen cycle path Eifel Heights Route Else Werre cycle path EmsAuenWeg Ems cycle path Emscher Park bike path Emscher way

Grevenbroich energy path Erft cycle path Rheinschiene Adventure Trail (part of the Rhine Cycle Route) Euroga between the Rhine and the Meuse Fietsallee on the north canal Peace route Football route NRW Green route Manor Route Historic city centers Kaiser route Cultural route on the Lippe and IJssel Lahn valley cycle path Lenneroute Möhnetal cycle path NaturGenussRoute Lower Rhine Route RadBahn Münsterland Roman route RuhrtalRadweg

Ruhr-Sieg cycle path Round trip Ruhr area = Tour de Ruhr Rurufer cycle path Sandstone route Sauerland cycling ring Senne cycle path Siegtal cycle path Stork route Valley route Vennbahn Via Romana From-Ruhr-to-Ruhr cycle path Water, forests, iron hammers Water castle route Wellness cycle route Weser cycle path Westfalen Cycle Route "R1" (Euro Route) Westphalian mill route

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Project: C ADVERKEHRSNETZ Von Below (accessed on December 23, 2017)
2. ^ Result of the jury meeting on February 27, 1998 (accessed on December 23, 2017)

Web links

• Cycling network NRW (with cycle route planner, JavaScript required)