A large-scale action to control compliance with traffic rules by drivers of light transport caught off guard those who are used to considering themselves a priority on the roads in the absence of government control. Mobile traffic police posts were deployed on key city thoroughfares, aimed at suppressing offenses by owners of two-wheeled vehicles. (Ed. note: And this is wonderful, such checks should happen more often)
Munich — “Stop, get off the bike!”
This exact phrase became the surprise of the day for hundreds of citizens accustomed to ignoring the traffic rules. For Munich cyclists, e-scooter riders, and motorcyclists, an unpleasant surprise came during the control measures of the traffic police. The focus was on violators who now face not only a substantial fine but also, in several cases, a point on their driver’s license. For many holders of driving licenses, this became an unpleasant discovery, as it turned out that their violations on a bicycle could directly affect their right to drive a car.
Many ran red lights, rode brazenly on sidewalks signaling to passers-by, used a mobile phone while driving, or moved in the opposite lane
More than 50 police officers were on duty from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM at ten specially equipped control points within the city. Special attention was paid to sections such as Kreillerstraße, Paul-Heyse-Straße, and Thomas-Dehler-Straße. Patrols recorded violations that have recently become systemic: ignoring a red traffic light, moving against the established direction, moving on sidewalks, signaling without reason, absence of a helmet, and using mobile gadgets without a headset.
In addition, as part of ensuring comprehensive security, police officers punished car drivers who parked on bike lanes, forcing cyclists to ride onto the sidewalk. (Ed. note: Unfortunately, Bavarian cyclists do not know that in the absence of the opportunity to move along a bike lane, they ARE OBLIGED to pull onto the roadway and move a maximum of one meter from the curb). Truck drivers making a turn without controlling their speed were also checked, which in conditions of heavy city traffic creates a critical threat to the life and health of others.
“Cyclists often completely do not realize the fact of committing an offense,” commented police spokesperson Nicole Langraf. According to her observations, it was not even clear to many road users that car drivers physically cannot notice them when moving on the wrong side of the road, especially when crossing intersections. Also, for many, it was news that penalty points and fines are provided for running a red light, moving on sidewalks, signaling without a reason, etc.
The peak of the check was that only a small part of citizens on bicycles showed an understanding of the necessity of such measures. The majority were in bewilderment as to what right the police had to stop them, and the only answer to the violations was: “There is no infrastructure for cyclists.” (Ed. note: I suggest that the Bavarian police send such cyclists to other countries to learn in practice what “no cycling infrastructure” means and what “everything is fine with the cycling infrastructure, the problem lies in the arrogance of the cyclist and the unwillingness to comply with the Laws and generally accepted ethics on the roads” means)
Full data on exactly how many violations were recorded will become available later, due to the fact that the action was coordinated at the level of all of Bavaria through the Ministry of the Interior.
Dangerous areas
Analysis of the urban environment allowed for the identification of high-risk zones. The following locations are considered especially dangerous for Munich residents: the intersection of Nymphenburger Straße and Landshuter Allee, according to the Statistical Office, poses a threat primarily to pedestrians — 27 accidents involving them occurred here in 2024.
Cyclists most often get into accidents on Kapuzinerstraße and the Wittelsbacherbrücke bridge, where 39 cases of collisions were recorded.
Motorists, on the other hand, most often collide on Bayerstraße within the boundaries between Goethe-Straße and Paul-Heyse-Straße — 30 accidents occurred there over the past year.
Road mortality has reached a record level
Statistical data confirms that strengthening control over compliance with rules — whether by drivers of two-wheeled or four-wheeled transport — is a vital necessity. In 2025, in Munich and its surroundings, according to law enforcement agencies, 31 people died. This figure was the highest in the last 18 years.
The increase in mortality is associated with a general increase in the intensity of bicycle traffic, as well as the fact that the bicycle has become a fashion trend, with a complete lack of knowledge or purposeful ignoring of the traffic rules by cyclists.
The appearance of a large number of e-bikes and e-scooters, developing significant speed, complicates the prediction of the situation on the road. Three recent fatal accidents were directly related to ignoring a red traffic signal.
“The police have a strong impression that for many bicycle drivers, the red light is only recommendatory,” noted Police Vice President Christian Huber during the presentation of the results for 2025.
The Federal Statistical Office supplemented this picture with nationwide data: while 445 cyclists died throughout Germany in 2024, their number reached 462 people in 2025. This means an increase of four percent — the mortality rate among cyclists is increasing twice as fast as the general statistics of fatal cases on the roads.
Fines: what threatens rule violators
According to German Laws, not only motorists but also pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter users face serious financial sanctions. The current catalog of fines provides for a progressive scale: the amount increases if the actions entailed the creation of a dangerous situation or an accident.
Cyclists:
- moving on a bike lane in the wrong direction: from 20 to 35 euros;
- moving on the sidewalk when there is a bike lane or roadway: from 55 to 100 euros;
- using a phone while driving: 55 euros;
- riding without using hands: 5 euros;
- running a red light: from 60 to 120 euros and one point; if the signal was on for more than a second: from 100 to 180 euros and one point;
- creating interference, as well as not yielding to pedestrians in the area of a pedestrian crossing: 40 euros;
- driving while intoxicated (from 1.6 ppm): a criminal case is initiated, from two to three points are accrued, a fine is set, and a medical-psychological examination (MPU) is prescribed.
Pedestrians:
- ignoring a red light: 5 euros;
- going out onto the road in a prohibited place: 5 euros.
E-scooter drivers:
- riding on sidewalks and in parks: from 15 to 30 euros;
- riding together on one device: 10 euros;
- exceeding the limit of 0.5 ppm: 500 euros, two points, and deprivation of the right to drive for one month.
- All other violations are fined according to the cyclists’ scheme.
Source: tz
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