Radfahrstreifen

Radfahrstreifen, often translated as bicycle lanes, are on-road lanes dedicated to cyclists. They are painted onto the roadway and typically sit along the right-hand edge of motor vehicle traffic on urban streets. The lane is marked with bicycle symbols and directional arrows and is separated from the adjacent car lanes by road markings. Compared with off-street cycle paths, Radfahrstreifen are part of the roadway and cyclists share the street with motor vehicles.

In Germany, Radfahrstreifen are designed to provide cyclists with a clearly defined space and to improve safety by reducing encroachment of motor vehicles. Motorists should not drive in the bike lane, except to cross it or to perform turning maneuvers where allowed by local rules. Cyclists may use the lane as marked and generally follow the same road rules as other traffic, while remaining vigilant at intersections where conflicts can arise.

Design and variation: The separation between the bike lane and the motor vehicle lane is marked by lines that can be solid or dashed, depending on location and regulation. Radfahrstreifen can coexist with other on-street facilities and may be narrower on older or narrower streets. Some cities use accompanying features such as buffer zones or signals to improve predictability. They are distinct from protected bike lanes or cycle tracks, which use physical barriers to separate cyclists from motor traffic, and from off-road Fahrradwege.

Impact and considerations: Radfahrstreifen aim to reduce conflicts and provide a predictable routing for cyclists, but effectiveness depends on width, maintenance, and enforcement. They can be obstructed by parked or illegally stopped vehicles, and at intersections they may still present safety challenges. In many urban areas, they coexist with other solutions like protected lanes to enhance overall cycling safety.