ADFC
Encyclopedia
The German Cyclists’ Federation (ADFC) registered association is a traffic club for cyclists in Germany. It promotes the so-called soft mobility.
The foundation meeting of the ADFC took place on 27 September 1979 in Bremen, after the idea to establish such an organisation arose during the International Bicycle and Motorbike Exhibition (IFMA) on 18 April 1978. Jan Tebbe from Bremen provided the idea and was the first Chairman of the ADFC. To the founders belong besides active cyclists also various transportation researchers, like Heiner Monheim or Tilman Bracher.
The ADFC is active as an interest group of cyclists in many German towns particularly in traffic politics. It became known for, amongst other things, the bicycle climate test, which was carried out in 1988, 1991, 2003 and 2005.
The ADFC is a member of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
At the demand of the ADFC a National Cycle Traffic Plan was presented in 2002 for the first time by the German Federal Government.
Cycle tours: The local and district associations of the ADFC offer members and non-members throughout Germany a multitude of organized cycle tours of varying difficulty and duration. The programmes are available from the respective groups and increasingly in the Internet.
Action „Mit dem Rad zur Arbeit“ („Cycling to Work“): Nationally exclusive with the AOK public health insurance company this campaign was brought into being to motivate employees to travel to work by bike, and to encourage companies to create favourable conditions to this end, e.g. showers or parking facilities. Aims are preventive health care and the reduction of motorised individual transport.
Travel: The subdivisions of the ADFC also function as tour operators. A number of state, district and local associations offer guided cycle tours of several days, in addition the ADFC brokers cycling holidays. The Dachgeber [“roof giver”] is a sub-organization of the ADFC, which mediates on a basis of mutual free accommodation for cyclists on tour. In 1995 started the quality certification „Bed & Bike“. Bed & Bike undertakings are guest establishments from five star hotel to youth hostel and camping site, which commit themselves to abide by the most important expectations of cycle tourists. Since 2006 the ADFC also tests and certifies long-distance cycle paths „ADFC-Qualitätsradroute“ [Quality Cycle Route]) according to a comprehensive catalogue of criteria developed by the tourism expert committee. In August 2008 the top mark of five stars was assigned for the first time to a long-distance cycle route: the Main Valley Cycle Route near Randersacker.
Consulting: In rented information centres the ADFC offers advice on all topics concerning bicycle and traffic, gives tips on cycle holidays, helps with the planning of tours, occasionally also lends books, magazines, bikes and accessories. With its programme „Bike + Business“ the ADFC Hesse advises firms and administrations on the creation of cycle-friendly conditions for their staff.
Maps: The ADFC is involved in the publication of a comprehensive bicycle map series on a scale of 1:150.000 (according to the publisher’s imprint Germany’s most purchased cycle tour map) as well as of regional maps on a scale of 1:75.000 (occasionally also 1:100.000 or 1:50.000) and often creates, also on the local level, bike maps right up to bicycle town plans following the slogan „from cyclists for cyclists“. For some years now are also offered courses and information on GPS navigation.
Literature: Members receive every two months the magazine „Radwelt“ and other regional bicycle magazines, as well as their tour programme in paper form.
Insurance: The membership in the ADFC comprises insurance with excess for legal protection and liability as non-motorised road users; insurances against bicycle theft brokered.
Miscellaneous: A few ADFC subdivisions organize bike travel fairs, bicycle flea markets, repair courses, courses on tour planning, cycle riding courses (cycle riding schools) for adults or maintain self-help workshops. The ADFC Berlin organizes the converging bicycle rally, which according to their own assessment is the largest bicycle demonstration in the world.
Delegate principle: Each level elects besides its own managing committees also delegates which determine the managing committee of the next highest level. So for instance the delegates of a Federal State Assembly elect the participants of the Federal General Assembly. This in turn determines the Federal Board.
Federal Board: The voluntary working Federal Board is elected by the Federal General Assembly. For the implementation of its decisions the managing committee can draw on the federal office in Bremen.
Federal General Assembly: The highest committee of the association, which holds an annual meeting and elects the Federal Board for two years. The basic decisions on the aims and the focus of the association’s work are as a rule made in this committee.
Federal Central Committee: The Federal Central Committee is composed by representatives from the state associations (as a rule members of the state executive committee) and determines the guidelines for the work of the Federal Board. Thus the central committee is the second highest committee of the ADFC.
Expert committees: They advise the Federal Board on the development of ADFC positions. Expert committees are appointed and dissolved by the General Assembly at the suggestion of the central committee. Currently exist expert committees on technology, tourism, public transport and cycle traffic. The cycle traffic expert group is a joint commission of the ADFC and the union for urban, regional and state planning.
The foundation meeting of the ADFC took place on 27 September 1979 in Bremen, after the idea to establish such an organisation arose during the International Bicycle and Motorbike Exhibition (IFMA) on 18 April 1978. Jan Tebbe from Bremen provided the idea and was the first Chairman of the ADFC. To the founders belong besides active cyclists also various transportation researchers, like Heiner Monheim or Tilman Bracher.
The ADFC is active as an interest group of cyclists in many German towns particularly in traffic politics. It became known for, amongst other things, the bicycle climate test, which was carried out in 1988, 1991, 2003 and 2005.
The ADFC is a member of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
At the demand of the ADFC a National Cycle Traffic Plan was presented in 2002 for the first time by the German Federal Government.
Services
Theft prevention: In some regions the ADFC offers bicycle coding according to a system coordinated with the police (FEIN coding). Furthermore, the ADFC advises in matters of theft prevention, secure bicycle parking facilities / locks etc.Cycle tours: The local and district associations of the ADFC offer members and non-members throughout Germany a multitude of organized cycle tours of varying difficulty and duration. The programmes are available from the respective groups and increasingly in the Internet.
Action „Mit dem Rad zur Arbeit“ („Cycling to Work“): Nationally exclusive with the AOK public health insurance company this campaign was brought into being to motivate employees to travel to work by bike, and to encourage companies to create favourable conditions to this end, e.g. showers or parking facilities. Aims are preventive health care and the reduction of motorised individual transport.
Travel: The subdivisions of the ADFC also function as tour operators. A number of state, district and local associations offer guided cycle tours of several days, in addition the ADFC brokers cycling holidays. The Dachgeber [“roof giver”] is a sub-organization of the ADFC, which mediates on a basis of mutual free accommodation for cyclists on tour. In 1995 started the quality certification „Bed & Bike“. Bed & Bike undertakings are guest establishments from five star hotel to youth hostel and camping site, which commit themselves to abide by the most important expectations of cycle tourists. Since 2006 the ADFC also tests and certifies long-distance cycle paths „ADFC-Qualitätsradroute“ [Quality Cycle Route]) according to a comprehensive catalogue of criteria developed by the tourism expert committee. In August 2008 the top mark of five stars was assigned for the first time to a long-distance cycle route: the Main Valley Cycle Route near Randersacker.
Consulting: In rented information centres the ADFC offers advice on all topics concerning bicycle and traffic, gives tips on cycle holidays, helps with the planning of tours, occasionally also lends books, magazines, bikes and accessories. With its programme „Bike + Business“ the ADFC Hesse advises firms and administrations on the creation of cycle-friendly conditions for their staff.
Maps: The ADFC is involved in the publication of a comprehensive bicycle map series on a scale of 1:150.000 (according to the publisher’s imprint Germany’s most purchased cycle tour map) as well as of regional maps on a scale of 1:75.000 (occasionally also 1:100.000 or 1:50.000) and often creates, also on the local level, bike maps right up to bicycle town plans following the slogan „from cyclists for cyclists“. For some years now are also offered courses and information on GPS navigation.
Literature: Members receive every two months the magazine „Radwelt“ and other regional bicycle magazines, as well as their tour programme in paper form.
Insurance: The membership in the ADFC comprises insurance with excess for legal protection and liability as non-motorised road users; insurances against bicycle theft brokered.
Miscellaneous: A few ADFC subdivisions organize bike travel fairs, bicycle flea markets, repair courses, courses on tour planning, cycle riding courses (cycle riding schools) for adults or maintain self-help workshops. The ADFC Berlin organizes the converging bicycle rally, which according to their own assessment is the largest bicycle demonstration in the world.
Basic data
- Members: over 130,000 (Status: February 2011)
- State Associations: 16
- District Associations: ca. 400
- Committees offices and info centres: ca. 60
Managing Committee
- Ulrich Syberg, Federal Chairman
- Deputies:
- Bertram Giebeler
- Birgit Kloppenburg (at the same time treasurer)
- Bernd Lemser
- Sabine Kluth
- Ludger Koopmann
Committees
Federal structure: The ADFC is structured federally. In addition to the Federal Association exist state and district associations. The local associations form the lowest level. With Federal Board, Federal General Assembly and Federal Central Committee the association is built up in a similar way to the German government (Analogy: Bundestag and Federal Assembly).Delegate principle: Each level elects besides its own managing committees also delegates which determine the managing committee of the next highest level. So for instance the delegates of a Federal State Assembly elect the participants of the Federal General Assembly. This in turn determines the Federal Board.
Federal Board: The voluntary working Federal Board is elected by the Federal General Assembly. For the implementation of its decisions the managing committee can draw on the federal office in Bremen.
Federal General Assembly: The highest committee of the association, which holds an annual meeting and elects the Federal Board for two years. The basic decisions on the aims and the focus of the association’s work are as a rule made in this committee.
Federal Central Committee: The Federal Central Committee is composed by representatives from the state associations (as a rule members of the state executive committee) and determines the guidelines for the work of the Federal Board. Thus the central committee is the second highest committee of the ADFC.
Expert committees: They advise the Federal Board on the development of ADFC positions. Expert committees are appointed and dissolved by the General Assembly at the suggestion of the central committee. Currently exist expert committees on technology, tourism, public transport and cycle traffic. The cycle traffic expert group is a joint commission of the ADFC and the union for urban, regional and state planning.