With many new and expanded routes, the network of cycle paths in the Wetterau has grown steadily for years, all routes cover a total of more than 1000 kilometers.

This has led to a noticeable upswing in cycle tourism, which in recent years has developed into an economic factor, especially for rural areas.

The district has of course not only set itself the goal of strengthening tourism.

It is also about making cycling more attractive for everyday life, for cyclists who not only pedal in their free time, but also cycle to work or to go shopping.

Especially since surveys show that there are more and more people who cover longer distances by bike in their daily life in order to keep fit and also to make a contribution to the turnaround in traffic.

Wolfram Ahlers

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for Central Hesse and the Wetterau.

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The district has taken this into account and, in cooperation with cities and municipalities, has launched the “Kurz Wetterau” project, a cycle path connection specially designed for commuters that crosses the district from north to south on the shortest possible, uncomplicated routes to the gates of Frankfurt .

After the route has been roughly determined, the district is now working on the expansion of the “short Wetterau” in cooperation with local authorities and road traffic authorities.

Separation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic

Such a connection, as Matthias Walther (CDU) admits, will probably not be able to meet the criteria of certified cycle superhighways. Four meters of expansion width, separation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic and crossings free of crossings - these are criteria that are difficult to implement without major structural and financial effort. That's why you're planning a little smaller, but making progress bit by bit, says Peter Hünner, who is responsible for cycling in the structural funding department of the district administration. As far as the lines are concerned, the planners have concentrated on the existing network, which has been signposted across the board in recent years.

The route of the "short Wetterau" begins in Butzbach and leads along the cycle path on federal road 3 to Ober-Mörlen, from where it continues to Friedberg via Nieder-Mörlen and Bad Nauheim. On the southern outskirts of Friedberg there is a connection to Wöllstadt via farm roads. Continue towards the center of the Rhine-Main area from Wöllstadt past Karben and Dortelweil to Bad Vilbel, from where various routes lead to the north and west of Frankfurt. From Nieder-Wöllstadt onwards, among other things, the cycle path of the regional park route on the Nidda, which has been continuously improved in recent years, is available. In order to achieve the self-set goal of the Wetteraukreis to have a continuous, well-developed route between Butzbach and Frankfurt by about the middle of the decade,Of course, some sections have to be expanded.

Reinforced agricultural paths

For example, plans are currently underway for the asphalting of gravel roads in the districts of Ober-Mörlen and Nieder-Mörlen. One step has been taken on a critical section, the connection between Friedberg and Bad Nauheim. The previously advised route ran across the busy intersection of Bundesstraße 455 with Gießener Straße, the access road to the district town, in the north of Friedberg. Because tests by road construction management and road traffic authorities had shown that no significant improvements for cyclists, especially in terms of road safety, could be achieved there without great effort, another solution was found in the end.The route now leads from the sports fields on Friedberger Burgfeld through the floodplain along the Usa in the direction of Bad Nauheim to the sewage treatment plant and on to Frankfurter Straße. In the course of the revised signs for the Wetterau cycle path network, which is to be implemented next year, these lines will be pointed out with a separate logo.

The planners have also made headway with the connection from Nieder-Wöllstadt in the direction of Okarben and have found a solution for a short connection without the loop along the Nidda via upgraded agricultural paths near the main road. The route in Bad Vilbel on the route from the Old Town Hall in the north of the city center to the Frankfurt urban area has not yet been finally clarified. According to district councilor Walther, the district is hoping for suggestions for the southernmost section of the “short Wetterau” from a study by the regional association, which the Wetterau district is helping to finance.