Spread of electric bikes in Germany increases fatal cycling accidents
Clean Energy Wire
The growing popularity of electric bikes in Germany continues to push up the number of fatal cycling accidents. Last year, 462 cyclists were killed in road accidents in the country, 17 more than in 2024, according to statistical office Destatis.
Cyclists on electric bikes accounted for 217 of the fatalities, compared to 195 in 2024 and only 36 ten years ago. As a result of this increase, one in six people killed in road traffic accidents in Germany last year were cyclists.
Mobility experts believe that cycling can significantly contribute to more sustainable and healthy mobility by reducing car use, especially in urban areas. It is therefore one tool to reduce transport emissions, which have remained largely unchanged for decades in Germany.
“It’s good that more people are cycling. But we cannot accept that more people are dying on their bikes,” the DVW road safety association said.
Only last week, a government-sponsored report said that improving cycling infrastructure is key to boosting cycling as a key element of urban mobility.
“Of course, we need safe cycle networks, but that alone is simply not enough,” DVW said, calling for more public awareness campaigns and mobility training. “There is also an urgent need to increase helmet usage, particularly among adults, in order to prevent serious consequences of accidents,” the organisation said.
In total, road traffic accidents claimed the lives of 2,814 people in Germany last year. In the whole of the EU, that number stood at 19,934 in 2024.
Older cyclists are particularly at risk, Destatis said. More than 60 percent of all cycling fatalities, and more than 67 percent of those killed while riding an electric bike were at least 65 years old. DVW said the share of older cyclists wearing a helmet is particularly low.
Almost a third of deadly cycling accidents did not involve other road users, indicating the victims had difficulty handling their bikes. Of all cycling accidents with other road users, 70 percent involved cars.