The German federal government plans to reduce funding for cycling in its 2027 draft federal budget by nearly 10% to €544 million, according to cycling industry association Zukunft Fahrrad. The association has criticized the proposed cuts and called for greater investment in cycling infrastructure.

In a statement issued on September 7, Zukunft Fahrrad cited the Federal Ministry for Transport's Fahrradmonitor, which found that 55% of people in Germany want to cycle or use an e-bike more often, up from 41% in 2021. Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, said demand for cycling continues to grow while the government is reducing funding for the infrastructure needed to support it. He said investment in safe and modern cycling infrastructure also supports the development of the cycling industry.

Funding Reductions for Local and Regional Infrastructure

Among the affected programs is “Stadt und Land,” which provides federal financial support for local cycling projects. According to Zukunft Fahrrad, funding is set to fall from €281 million to €276 million. The association said that rising construction costs make the reduction more significant in real terms.

Funding for cycle paths along federal roads is budgeted at €100 million for 2027. Official information from the German Bundestag confirms that this amount is unchanged from 2026. Zukunft Fahrrad noted that the allocation had already been reduced from €120 million to €100 million during the previous year’s budget deliberations.

No New Funds for Railway Station Bicycle Parking

Zukunft Fahrrad stated that no funding for new projects has been allocated to the federal program supporting bicycle parking facilities at railway stations.

In addition, funding for cycle superhighways and cycle paths along federal waterways is set to decline by a combined €43 million. Zukunft Fahrrad criticized the government for not reallocating these funds to programs facing greater demand, noting that the affected programs had previously seen lower funding utilization due to lengthy planning processes.

Further proposed cuts include:

Active mobility funding: reduced by €2 million

Model cycling projects: reduced by €5 million

Commercial e-cargo bikes under the National Climate Initiative: reduced by €4 million

Zukunft Fahrrad is calling for a different allocation of federal funding, with greater investment in cycling infrastructure.

The 2027 federal budget draft remains under parliamentary consideration. The German federal government approved the draft on July 6, and the Bundestag began its first reading of the budget on September 8.

Photo: Zukunft Fahrrad