German “bicycle Autobahn” given green light: reports

In Germany, authorities have given the green light to a project that, for many Canadian riders—not to mention cyclists throughout the world—is going to be a matter of serious envy.

That project, reports say, is being called a “bicycle Autobahn.”

It sounds almost too good to be true, and it’s the first of its kind in Grmany. Connecting 10 cities in the west of the country, the path is exclusive to cyclists, free of red lights and vehicles. In total, the “bike Autobahn” will extend 100 kilometres, connecting municipalities like Duisburg, Bochum and Hamm along a stretch of decommissioned railway. Unlike smaller, single-lane bike paths—the kind already seen in many European cities—the new path is something tantamount to a highway for cyclists, complete with dedicated winter maintenance, lighting and a comfortably accommodating four metres of space.

Five kilometres of the velo-Autobahn have already been made available to riders, a rapid track slicing through the Ruhr industrial region. With the project given the final go-ahead, talks are now underway to raise 180 million euros—about $196 million—to complete the remaining 95 kilometres.

With 10 percent of transportation in Germany being by bike, advocates say, the project is also a step forward to what they argue will be a greener, more progressive future—and one with fewer cars, especially in cities. “Building highways in cities,” said Burkhard Stork as reported by CTV, “is a life-threatening recipe from the 1960s. No one wants more cars in cities.”

What do you think: could something like this work in Canada?