Cycling is trendy: Bad Reichenhall opens spectacular Wossa cycle route!

Cycling is trendy: Bad Reichenhall opens spectacular Wossa cycle route!

In recent years, Germany has developed from a country with little cycling friendliness into an increasingly attractive destination for cyclists. Bicycle tourism is particularly trendy: According to current information, around 37 million people use bicycles for vacation trips or day trips. A significant step in this direction is the Wossa cycle route in Bad Reichenhall, which opened today, May 24, 2025. This new cycle route stretches over almost 600 kilometers and covers 8,000 meters of altitude. Not only is it suitable for e-bikes, but it also offers access to numerous rivers and lakes, making it a popular destination for cyclists. ZDF reports.

Germany can now boast tens of thousands of kilometers of cycle routes, including over 320 long-distance cycle routes with more than 100 kilometers. Such an expansion of the infrastructure is essential in order to address different user groups. The number of e-bikes in Germany is estimated at over 15 million, with almost one in five people owning such a bike. The sales boom is remarkable: 0.5 million e-bikes were sold in 2014, while the number of e-bikes sold rose to 2.1 million in 2024. The number of bicycles sold also remains at a high level at 1.8 million. The German Tourism Association adds that e-bikes make cycling trips more accessible for a wide range of fitness levels and age groups, especially in mountainous regions.

Infrastructure and security in focus

The right infrastructure is crucial for cycle tourism. While there are 92 public charging stations for e-bikes in the Austrian Salzkammergut region, there are only ten such stations in the German Berchtesgadener Land. Safety remains a central issue: more than two thirds of cyclists feel unsafe in traffic. It is therefore important to create a continuous network of safe, comfortable and well-signposted cycle paths, which also includes enough charging stations for e-bikes.

Governments and institutions at various levels are working to promote cycling. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport coordinates the development of concepts to improve the cycling infrastructure. Specialist associations, such as the General German Bicycle Club and the Two-Wheeler Industry Association, are also committed to the interests of cyclists and the further development of tourism in bicycle journalism. The German Tourism Association highlights how important it is to make cycling holidays even more attractive in the future in order to maintain the demand for tourism.