Bicycle Expressways RS10 Karlsruhe – Ettlingen
Task Definition
In recent years, bicycle expressways have increasingly come into focus in cycling policy, driven in part by federal funding programs and a growing societal debate on climate protection and sustainable mobility.
Bicycle expressways aim to reduce travel times for cyclists through appropriate routing and improvements in infrastructure standards. This is intended to make the travel time advantages of cycling particularly noticeable over short to medium distances and to increase its attractiveness. This development is further supported by the growing electrification of bicycles, which allows for higher average speeds over longer distances.
In the Karlsruhe region, cycling already plays an important role in everyday transport, and its use has been continuously promoted for several years.
As part of the 2019 feasibility study on bicycle expressways in the Middle Upper Rhine region, the Regional Association of the Middle Upper Rhine (RVMO) commissioned an analysis of cycling potential, identifying the corridor between Ettlingen and Karlsruhe as having the highest cycling potential. The planned bicycle expressway will have a length of approximately 5 km.
Based on this study, PTV Transport Consult GmbH, in collaboration with TTK TransportTechnologie-Consult Karlsruhe GmbH, carried out preliminary planning according to HOAI and a traffic study to determine a preferred route variant. This included analyzing and forecasting traffic flows within the study area. PTV serves as the project lead for the two components: preliminary planning and traffic study.
Approach
Preliminary Planning
The variant study included six main route options, subdivided into a total of 15 sub-variants:
- Variant 1 (orange): Right of the Alb – Lange Straße
- Variant 2 (red): Left of the Alb – Reiherbach – Felder
- Variant 3 (pink): Gottlob-Schreber-Weg – Railway embankment
- Variant 4 (green): Donaustraße – Railway embankment
- Variant 5 (rose): Herrenalber Straße
- Variant 6 (black): L605 / Weiherwald
For these variants, the following steps were carried out:
- Inventory assessment
- Route concept development and discussion
- Creation of scaled cross-sections and location plans (1:500) for all variants
- Development of a criteria catalog for evaluation
- Calculation of lost travel time
Traffic Study with Potential Analysis
The model base was created using the VISUM traffic model for the Middle Upper Rhine region by PTV. The regional model was adapted and refined specifically for cycling. Bicycle demand was derived from motor vehicle demand, and the network was mapped in detail.
In the first step, extensive counts and surveys of cyclists in Karlsruhe and Ettlingen were conducted. The analysis model was then calibrated using the count data, and model quality was verified via the GEH statistic.
Based on the traffic model, current and future cycling potential along the corridor was determined for each route and variant. The methodology used follows the guidelines for potential analysis and cost-benefit analysis of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt 2019). This methodology considers modal shift effects between bicycle and motor vehicle traffic based on changes in travel time ratios.
The results indicate cycling potentials of up to approximately 5,000 cyclists per 24 hours, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement of over 2,000 cyclists on most sections. Overall, the cycling potentials for the six main and 15 sub-variants were determined using the traffic model and integrated into the variant comparison.
Results
The results indicate cycling potentials of up to approximately 5,000 cyclists per 24 hours, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement of over 2,000 cyclists on most sections of the route. Overall, the cycling potentials for the six main and 15 sub-variants were determined using the traffic model and incorporated into the variant comparison.