Austria as a role model: Initiative against compulsory use of cycle paths

Cycle paths are often very short, narrow, in poor condition and next door is a well-developed road. Road cyclists are familiar with the dilemma that a blue cycle path sign often triggers: do I want to obey the law or do I want to have fun and ride safely? The board of the RSC Vegesack would like to resolve this dilemma: together with the Bremen Cycling Association, Bulek has launched an initiative to always allow training rides with racing bikes on the road - even if there is a cycle path parallel to the road.

TOUR: How did you come up with the idea for the initiative?

Siegmund Bulek: I've been in the club for 33 years and use the road and not cycle paths for training rides. You can't ride on the cycle path with a training group. We have often discussed this in the club and everyone is of the opinion that this regulation is not right in Germany. The conditions are not there. I will now do everything in my power to overturn this regulation. We have found a coalition partner in the Bremen Cycling Federation - that's six other clubs. There are 17 cycling associations in Germany and we hope that even more will join in.

TOUR: What have you done so far to combat the obligation to use cycle paths?

Siegmund Bulek: On behalf of RSC Vegesack and Bremer Radsportverband, we have sent a letter to a member of the German Bundestag: Mathias Stein, SPD, is a member of the parliamentary cycling group. He has promised to pass on the issue.

No compulsory use of cycle paths for road cyclists in Austria

TOUR: What exactly do you want to achieve?

Siegmund Bulek: Our role model is Austria. In Austria, there is no obligation to use cycle paths for training rides on racing bikes. The law stipulates what a racing bike is - we also want to limit ourselves to racing cycling. We cyclists who train want to use the road in compliance with the law. That is exactly what is possible in Austria. I meet up every Easter in Italy with racing bike friends from all over Europe to train. They don't understand the problems we have with cycle paths in Germany. Do you know how old this law is in Germany that groups of 16 people are allowed to ride on the road?

TOUR: If you ask me, probably very old ...

Siegmund Bulek: Yes, we did some research in the National Court Library and it's from 1937. The Reichsgesetzblatt states that more than 15 cyclists are allowed to ride on the road. Where does this number 16 come from? Why not 8 and not 12? There are never 16 in our cycling club. We come to training and sometimes there are 8 people, then 10 or 12.

TOUR: What exactly does your proposal for compulsory use of cycle paths envisage?

Siegmund Bulek: If you read the Austrian StVO, there is a clear definition of what a racing bike is. The first factor is the weight, the handlebars must be appropriate. It has to be approved by the UCI, if there are five people riding, you can't ride with time trial handlebars. It's the same in Austria. In Austria, however, you are also allowed to ride a road bike to work.

TOUR: What happens next?

Siegmund Bulek: I have received a reply from Berlin that it has been forwarded. I hope that the Sports Committee will consider our proposal. It would also be important for the topic to receive a lot of attention.

Info legal situation Austria

The obligation to use cycle paths does not apply to racing cyclists in Austria. They are allowed to ride side by side on roads with public traffic on training rides with racing bikes and are not obliged to use "cycling facilities". The term "training ride" is not precisely defined in the law.

A racing bike is a bike with the following technical features:

• Tare weight of the ready-to-ride bike max. 12 kg
• Race handlebar outer rim diameter at least 630 mm and
• outer rim width maximum 23 mm

Link tip: What the Highway Code in Germany