Germany’s first climate-adaptable cycle path: The Kühle Spur” opens!

Germany’s first climate-adaptable cycle path: The Kühle Spur” opens!

On July 19, 2025, Germany will celebrate the opening of the first climate-adapting cycle path, the “Kühle Spur”, in Lusatia. This innovative route is not only a highlight for cycle tourists, but also an important step towards adapting to the challenges of climate change. The cycle path winds over 43.3 kilometers through cool landscapes that were designed using targeted measures to regulate temperature. The route runs mainly between the Altdöberner and Großräschener lakes and leads through forests that offer shade and cooling. The project is called “Landscape innovations in Lusatia for a climate-adapted bioeconomy and natural bioeconomy tourism” or LIL-KliBioTo for short and was launched with the participation of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research and the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg. These measures aim to keep cycle tourism attractive even in times of climate change, according to MDR.

In order to design the cycle path in the best possible way, cycle tourists were actively involved in the planning. Your feedback helped to optimize the route, sights and rest areas. In addition to drinking water dispensers and swimming opportunities at Großräschener and Altdöberner See, cyclists also have access to cozy cafés for breaks. The start and finish point is the tourist information center in Großräschen, where there is also a free water dispenser. The route is considered an “easy bike tour” and is suitable for all fitness levels; the estimated time for the complete tour is under three hours.

Intelligent planning with drone technology

The development of the “Cool Trace” is based on innovative research: specialists use drones and thermal images to identify temperature hot spots and cold spots. These technologies help to design cycle paths to take climatic conditions into account. The route takes into account not only existing landscapes, but also future climate changes.

Many of the measures implemented along the route demonstrate a clear focus on long-term adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Cycle paths like the “Kühle Spur” are part of a larger trend in Germany, where the infrastructure for cyclists is continually being improved. Despite all the progress, the situation remains challenging. Current studies show that Germany has a below-average cycling infrastructure compared to other European countries. Only 9% of the roads in Germany are available to cyclists, while countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have 28% and 70.5%, as ZDF reports.

Looking into the future

The institutions concerned and the General German Bicycle Club e.V. (ADFC) are calling for further investments in a welcoming infrastructure for cyclists. A complete network of separate cycle paths is essential in order to increase the proportion of cycle traffic. This is currently only 13% in Germany, while demand and interest in cycling are increasing rapidly. A significantly higher proportion of 45% by 2035 would be necessary to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the local area. However, the path there is paved with challenges that still need to be overcome.

The opening of the “Kühle Spur” not only presents a new cycle path, but also sets an example: the ongoing adaptation to climate change is not only a concern for nature and environmental protection, but also has great economic potential in cycle tourism.