Oldenburg is known as one of Germany’s dozen-or-so bicycle-friendliest cities, which is not surprising considering its location on the North German plain between Bremen and the Netherlands’ border.
The city of Oldenburg has an impressive cycling infrastructure, including an extensive network of separated cycle paths (and hardly any cycle lanes that are merely painted on the streets, as in most German cities). And at some intersections they have started installing thermal imaging cameras that recognize cyclists at traffic lights and can ensure longer green phases.
Cycling in Oldenburg
But local cycling advocates point out that that there is still ample room for improvement, especially in comparison with nearby cycling strongholds such as Bremen (40 km to the east), Münster (160 km to the south) and especially Groningen (in the Netherlands, 110 km to the west).
One of the two bicycle stations at the Oldenburg train station
At the Oldenburg train station there are two bicycle stations (on the north and south sides), where bicycles can be stored safely for a small fee. The two stations together have room for about 1,500 bicycles and are usually quite full, even though hundreds of bikes are also parked outside.
For comparison: Germany’s largest bicycle station, in Münster, can hold 3,500 bicycles, and the central railway station across the border in Groningen, the Netherlands, has parking for around ten thousand bicycles. The world’s largest bicycle parking garage is currently the one in at the main station in Utrecht, also in the Netherlands, which opened in 2019 and can hold 12,500 bicycles.
All these bicycle stations also offer bike rentals and repairs.
Parked bikes in one of the Oldenburg bicycle stations
When I arrived in Oldenburg, I soon realized that I didn’t even need a bicycle, since all the places I wanted to go to — the train station, my hotel, the theater and the museums — were all within easy walking distance. So I didn’t even use a bike for transportation, but just rented one at the station and spent a pleasant afternoon riding around the city and its environs, with no particular destination in mind.
My photos in this post are from 2016. I wrote the text in 2021.
See more posts on Oldenburg, Germany.
See more cycling posts.
My daughter commutes on a bike (in Maryland) and she has a camera on her bike which would give a visual record if she was run off the road. We do have a dedicated bike path in our county which goes from the county line down to about mid-county (they used the old railroad track right of way for some of it I think). None of it is on the actual road. Florida does a little bit better job of the biking paths, and Bermuda has an old railroad track bed the whole length of the country (except for the bit around the airport where there is only a narrow car bridge) where no motorized vehicles are allowed, but you have to be able to walk across some sections where there were bridges and there are now steps. My daughter biked some of this – she used a very light road bike which she could pick up and carry.
I don’t think I have the fitness to bike anymore although I think I can ride a bike for a very short distance. The last time I tried was in 2004
I think a lot of places are taking advantage of the corona pandemic to improve their cycling infrastructure. I can’t wait to get back to Paris, especially, to try out some of their new protected bicycle routes.
Wow: this is something I had not even imagined. I’d love to have protected cycling paths anywhere in the United States (I have seen very short lengths of such paths here in San Diego, CA, but not long enough to get anywhere without taking your life into your hands vis. the drivers…)
I have seen the one in Utrecht and it was huge! Even in the city there was no place without a bicycle.One of the things that I have learned to loved when I´ve lived here in Germany is riding my bike.I can´t do without it now…
Such facilities are very encouraging for cyclists, well done Oldenburg
My second favorite outdoor activity after cross-country skiing. 🙂
Enjoy your day!