Public Affairs
USAG Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a biking town and cycling is a major form of transportation to and from work, as well as riding for enjoyment. With the warm weather, cyclists are popping up all over, hopping off and on the S-Bahn, riding in the woods, or just taking a short trip to the market. Cycling is a healthy and scenic opportunity to see Stuttgart in a whole new way.
Cycling to Work
What kind of bike would you recommend for someone interested in bike commuting? A full suspension mountain bike will work, as do commuter and road bikes. A hard tail (front shocks only) bike handles most conditions and is much faster than the full suspension mountain bike.
What are some safety precautions you take before or while commuting? A good helmet that allows room for a hat when temps drop, plenty of reflective gear, gloves (summer and winter), Gortex shoe covers and a sturdy front light with high output.
Cycling trails and helpful websites
Explore potential commuter routes when you have more time or on the bike ride home. If you avoid taking the same route every week, you can increase the work-out value.Cycling trails in Baden-Württem-berg are some of the easiest to follow with signage at almost every turn. A couple of good sites to use are www.bikemap.net/en and www.mapmyride.com. There is also a Facebook page for the American Stuttgart Cycling Community as well. This is a closed group, but you may ask to join. If you need a GPS, try the Google Maps cycling mode. Check your settings when planning your route for traffic patterns, etc.
Safety
German laws regarding cycling are straight forward and similar to those in the states. Read an article on bicycle safety and how German laws apply in the July 2019 issue of the Stuttgart Citizen newsstand edition.
(Editor’s note: This information is from an article originally posted here. The author is freelance writer, blogger and photographer Wendy Payne.)