Tens of thousands join Berlin's major bicycle rally

Tens of thousands of cyclists converged on Berlin's city center for the annual bicycle rally organized by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC). Participants started from various locations in Brandenburg and on the outskirts of Berlin, joining approximately 20 routes that led towards the Großer Stern and the Victory Column.

The rally, officially registered as a demonstration, granted cyclists temporary exclusive use of roads, including segments of the Avus A115 and the A100 autobahns. This unique aspect of the event necessitated detours for motorists affected by the temporary closures.

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People want to cycle from the heart, yet politics pushes them to the margins and sends them onto unsafe paths.

For decades, the ADFC has utilized this large-scale event to advocate for better cycling conditions. Marlene Alber, Political Officer for ADFC Berlin, expressed frustration with current policies, stating, "People want to cycle from the heart, yet politics pushes them to the margins and sends them onto unsafe paths." She stressed the need for traffic policy to genuinely consider cyclists' concerns and invest more in safe cycling routes.

"We demand expansion instead of reduction, investment instead of cuts. So that cycling is possible safely and comfortably every day," Alber added. The event highlighted the strong desire among citizens to cycle more, while simultaneously pointing to the perceived inadequacy of current infrastructure and political support for safe cycling.

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We demand expansion instead of reduction, investment instead of cuts. So that cycling is possible safely and comfortably every day.