Many people ride their bikes in their free time. They go on individual excursions or even go on holiday on two wheels. Since 2010, the Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club e.V. (ADFC) has been determining exactly how this is done. The ADFC has now presented the results of its cycle travel analysis for the year 2021.
On its website, the largest interest group for cyclists in Germany provides information about cycling tourism in this country with texts, pictures and numerous statistics. We have taken a look at the study and summarise the ten most important facts for you.
1. How is cycle tourism doing in the second year of Corona?
2. Which countries are Germans attracted to?
3. What are the most popular regions for a cycling trip in Germany?
4. On which cycle routes do people prefer to travel?
5. Why do people travel by bicycle?
6. How many people travel by ebike?
7. Why do people choose an ebike for their cycle travel?
8. How long are the routes?
9. What do people look for when deciding on a trip?
10. How do cyclists arrive?
1. How is cycle tourism doing in the second year of Corona?
While bicycle sales have rushed from one record to the next in recent years, this is not quite reflected in cycle travel. In 2021, 3.9 million Germans went on such a trip. Even though the previous year was completely dominated by the Corona pandemic, ADFC’s analysis does not reveal exactly how much Covid has influenced our behaviour in this regard.
Number of Germans going for a cycle travel
However, it is clear that the figures are still well below the level of the years before the start of the pandemic. ADFC recorded its highest ever figure of 5.5 million cyclists in 2018, which was almost matched the following year with 5.4 million. Already in 2016, 5.2 million Germans set out on a cycle travel.
A slightly different picture emerges when looking at day trips by bike. In this regard, the number of people taking such tours rose by eleven million to 41.6 million.
2. Which countries are Germans attracted to?
Those who set out on a cycle travel usually stay within Germany. Only 22 per cent of cyclists travel abroad. Austria was at the top of the Germans’ popularity scale in 2021. It was followed by Italy, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
3. What are the most popular regions for a cycling trip in Germany?
With picturesque river landscapes, rolling hills, meadows, lakes, forests and countless farms, Germans are particularly drawn to the Emsland region, together with the Osnabrücker Land and the county of Bentheim. This is the area that attracts most cyclists. Large parts of the east of the country, on the other hand, still seem to be an insider tip. The Spreewald is the only eastern German region to have made it into the ten most popular regions.
Most popular regions for cycle travel in Germany in 2021
4. On which cycle routes do people prefer to travel?
Along the Weser and Elbe rivers, there was the most activity in 2021. The long-distance cycling routes there are the most frequently used.
Most popular long-distance cycling routes in Germany in 2021
However, a tour on the Mainradweg and the Fünf-Flüsse-Radweg probably promises the most beautiful experience. Both received the top score of 1.5 when asked about satisfaction with the routes. In general, however, all long-distance cycling routes score surprisingly well here. None of the routes on which most people cycle was rated worse than 1.9. The scale of this category, surveyed for the first time by the ADFC, ranges from one for “very good” to six for “insufficient”.
It is also interesting to note that two thirds of cyclists during their cycle travel go from a starting point to a destination. The remaining third, on the other hand, choose a fixed location and ride from there in different directions.
5. Why do people travel by bicycle?
At first glance, the question may seem somewhat trivial. Why do people ride bicycles? Because you want to, sure enough. Yet ADFC received more concrete answers in its cycle travel analysis. According to this, for 80 percent of those surveyed, cycling offers the chance to experience a lot of the country and its people. This is immediately followed by the desire to be active on holiday, at 67 percent. Around half of the people are also more interested in rational aspects such as an environmentally friendly way of travelling and promoting their own health.
Reasons for a cycle travel in 2021
6. How many people travel by ebike?
Under point 1, we have already established that the increasing sales figures of ebikes do not translate into an increasing number of people travelling by bike. Among those who do, however, ebikes are increasingly popular. At 42 percent, the share of respondents who rely on electric assistance while on holiday is now high. This represents an increase of ten per cent compared to the 2020 survey, up from just 18 per cent in 2017.
Share of ebikes in German cycle travel
7. Why do people choose an ebike for their cycle travel?
Increasing one’s radius of action is the biggest advantage that cyclists consider in using an ebike. Logically, riding longer means being able to see more and meet more people. More than 72 percent of respondents confirm that they cover longer distances on holiday with an ebike than with a bicycle without motor assistance. Thanks to the e-drive, many no longer shy away from more demanding, hilly tours. This applies to around 53 percent of those surveyed. And the idea of community plays a central role as well. More than a quarter of cyclists say that they could now keep up with others on holiday.
Motives for using an ebike as part of a cycle travel in 2021
8. How long are the routes?
What exactly is meant by the longer distances mentioned is only clear from the cycle travel analysis in relation to the day trips. Here, an average of 43 kilometres are covered. Even a little more than 20 percent of the day trips are 60 kilometres or longer.
9. What do people look for when deciding on a trip?
The absolute majority of cyclists decide according to personal preferences and create their day trip on their own. This is how 82 percent of those surveyed proceed. On the other hand, the remaining 18 percent rely on already existing route suggestions.
10. How do cyclists arrive?
For 59 per cent of the people, the day trip starts at home. If a complete cycle travel is on the agenda, the figure drops to just 16 percent. In this case, 41 per cent prefer to arrive by car and 33 per cent by train.
More than a decade of expertise:
With its cycle travel analysis, the ADFC has been gathering insights into cycle tourism in Germany since 2010. This time, 10,269 people took part in this nationwide online survey. The survey covered the period from November 2021 to January 2022. In addition to the ADFC, the online retailer fahrrad.de was involved too. In the analysis, a trip is considered a cycle travel if cycling is one of the main motives and if it extends over at least three overnight stays.
Pictures: Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club e.V. (ADFC); Panasonic Industry Europe GmbH
