Bicycle application from German Railways now accessible nationwide in Germany.

In a significant development for sustainable and active transportation, the DB Rad+ app from Deutsche Bahn is now available nationwide in Germany. This app, which encourages the use of bicycles, is proving to be a valuable tool for cities and communities across the country.

The app, which allows cyclists to donate their anonymized mobility data, is being used by various municipalities for planning and evaluating the effectiveness of bicycle infrastructure. Ralf Thieme, board member of DB InfraGo for passenger stations, is a strong advocate for promoting climate-friendly travel to the train, and he believes that the combination of train and bicycle is ideal for sustainable travel.

One of the key benefits of the DB Rad+ app is its ability to provide cities and communities with detailed insights into bicycle traffic. These insights include traffic flows, usage frequencies of individual road sections, and turning behavior at intersections. This data can help expand bicycle infrastructure where it is most needed, as stated by Anjes Tjarks, Senator of the Hamburg authority for traffic and mobility transition. Tjarks also sees the nationwide availability of DB Rad+ as a valuable basis for the mobility transition.

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, for example, uses data from the DB Rad+ app for strategic location determination of bicycle counters. In Berlin, the Senate Administration for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and Environment uses the app to evaluate the acceptance of new infrastructure. The data donated by users helps municipalities improve local bicycle infrastructure, as stated by Tjarks.

The DB Rad+ app is not just a tool for planning new infrastructure, but also for evaluating the effectiveness of already implemented measures. Municipalities can use insights from the app to plan new bicycle infrastructure specifically and evaluate the impact of their efforts. This is crucial for ensuring that resources are used effectively and that the needs of cyclists are met.

The rewards from the DB Rad+ app are intended to encourage more frequent use of bicycles. Users of the app receive rewards such as vouchers from online shops or a coffee at the station. These incentives are designed to make cycling a more appealing and convenient option for commuters.

Caroline Lodemann, federal managing director of the General German Bicycle Club, has highlighted the importance of the DB Rad+ app for bicycle-friendly traffic planning. She stated that the app data is valuable for addressing the lack of data at many places for the expansion of bicycle paths and parking spaces. The establishment of protected bicycle lanes, as shown by data from the app in Berlin, leads to a significant increase in cyclists on the route.

In conclusion, the DB Rad+ app is transforming the way cities and communities approach bicycle-friendly traffic planning in Germany. With its nationwide availability and valuable insights, it is set to play a key role in the mobility transition and the expansion of sustainable transportation options.