Test Drive of ADFC Conducted: Wuppertal to Hagen Route
A feasibility study for a potential bike priority route was presented in December 2024. This proposed route aims to meet the required quality standards for bike priority routes and join the statewide bike priority network. According to the ADFC, this initiative involves reallocating road space to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians, as well as repairs, widening, and construction of bike paths and bridges. One such bridge, north of the Wuppertal-Langerfeld interchange in Schwelm, would link to the Nordbahntrasse and cross the A1 highway.
The preferred variant of this proposed route spans approximately 24 kilometers. For the majority of its length, cyclists will be guided along bike streets or shared pedestrian and bike paths in both directions. The remaining 10 kilometers will run on similarly designed pathways, such as bike lanes. It is expected that approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cyclists per day will use this route, depending on the section.
As part of the "Stadtradeln" event, Peter Hopfe from the ADFC will lead an excursion along the intended Veloroute W-EN-HA. The tour will commence at the Wichlinghausen train station and follow the Nordbahntrasse to Milspe, where a rendezvous with the counter-tour from Hagen is planned. The meeting will take place on Milspe's market square, which offers benches, an ice cream café, and a pizzeria. The itinerary includes a brief exchange with participants and the ADFC from Hagen.
The route will then proceed briefly towards Hagen before returning via Silschede and Haßlinghausen on the Glückauf and Kohlenbahntrasse to Wichlinghausen. The journey covers well-maintained paths with some moderate hills.
Although specific details about this new bike priority route are limited, the development of the Mirker Bahnhof along the Nordbahntrasse in Wuppertal envisions this location as a central hub for cyclists, which could potentially serve as a focal point for bike infrastructure and community activities. Further information on the proposed route and its connection to the Nordbahntrasse remains unclear.
The proposed bike priority route, covering around 24 km and catering to approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cyclists daily, also includes plans for a central hub, such as the Mirker Bahnhof along the Nordbahntrasse in Wuppertal, to foster bike infrastructure and community activities, thus enhancing the lifestyle of cyclists and contributing to a home-and-garden ethos that emphasizes healthier, greener, and more active living. Meanwhile, the ADFC's initiative, aiming to reallocate road space for cyclists and pedestrians and develop bike paths and bridges, supports a much broader home-and-garden vision that prioritizes sustainable living within urban environments.
