Unusual bike journey: pedaling against the flow on A61 roadway, solo traveler defying usual directions
In an incident that has raised safety concerns, a 20-year-old woman was reported cycling on the A61 motorway towards Koblenz on Monday morning at around 6 a.m. The woman was riding an e-bike and was travelling against the prescribed direction of traffic on the left lane.
The incident occurred near the Frankenthal motorway junction, and two patrol cars managed to stop the cyclist after approximately 400 meters. The Neustadt/Weinstraße police headquarters received the report about the cyclist.
The police warn against cycling on motorways, regardless of the use of high-vis vests. This is primarily due to the nature of motorways, which are designed for high-speed motorized traffic. Cycling on motorways poses a significant danger to both cyclists and flowing traffic.
Motorways have speed limits of 100 km/h or more, creating a vast difference in speed between cyclists and motor vehicles. This increases the risk of collisions. Motorway shoulders and entrances/exits are narrow or designed for emergency use, leaving cyclists little room to maneuver or avoid incidents.
Drivers on motorways do not anticipate cyclists, reducing reaction times. The presence of large trucks further magnifies the danger for cyclists due to blind spots and turbulence. Incidents on high-speed roads such as this one can result in fatal hazards for cyclists, such as collisions with motor vehicles travelling at high speeds or losing control due to sudden maneuvers required to accommodate an unexpected road user.
Such incidents underscore why strict prohibitions and signage exist to keep cyclists off motorways. The current investigations suggest no concrete endangerment of other road users during the incident near Koblenz. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the grave dangers when these rules are violated.
The woman was safely removed from the danger zone by the patrol cars and the incident is still under investigation to determine why the woman cycled onto the motorway.
[1] Cycling on Motorways: Risks and Safety Concerns. (2021). Retrieved from www.cyclingsafety.org/motorways
[5] Cycling on Motorways: The Legal Perspective. (2021). Retrieved from www.cyclinglaw.org/motorways
