Last updated: October 2021
A 21-kilometer regional cycle and footpath between the cities of Essen, Mülheim am der Ruhr and Duisburg was developed from the former unused railway route of the Rheinische Bahn. The path was landscaped to ensure the comfort of pedestrians and cyclists. Part of the route passes through Emscher Park and become a full-fledged part of the green infrastructure of Essen (Ref. 1).
Cycle route Rheinische Bahn (2018)
Photographer: Jochen Tack, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Sabine Noack
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Railroad bank and track greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Conversion of former industrial areas
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
1. To create a regional cycle/pedestrian route (Ref. 1)
2. To reduce CO2 emissions from transport vehicles (Ref. 1)
3. To continue green infrastructure of the Emscher park (Ref. 2)
4. Regeneration of abandoned railway line (Ref. 2)
5. To create a greener identity for the region (Ref. 3)
6. To create new recreational facilities for families (Ref. 3)
7. To improve environmental quality of the region (Ref. 3)
8. To reduced average health costs for citizens of the area (Ref. 3)
Implementation activities
1. Apart from new green spots introduced along the bike route, parts of derelict areas with biotopes were preserved and integrated to a bike route design (Ref. 5)
2. The route was divided into parts and completed within construction queues (Ref. 5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
"On February 7, 2012, the municipal planning committee passed the fundamental decision to build a regional cycle and footpath on the Rheinische Bahn route between the cities of Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg" (Ref. 5).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(A green cycle route "Rheinische Bahn" is a part of a larger regional development project "Radschnellweg Ruhr RS1" that aims at providing healthy conditions for a long-distance cycle traveling (Ref. 3))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Part of the "Rheinische Bahn" green bike route intersects with two other NBS projects in Essen, namely "Emscher Park" and "Krupp Park" (Ref. 1). Parts of the route that passes through these areas are developed, according to landscape projects of the two parks. )
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Reduced emissions
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Team Innenstadt (2017). EIN ABSCHNITT DES RADSCHNELLWEG RUHR RS1 RADWEG RHEINISCHE BAHN, Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
2. Bahntrassenradeln (2017). Bahntrassenradeln – Details. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
3. Ministerium für Bauen, Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (2016). RS1. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
4. CORINNE BUCH & ARMIN JAGEL. (2011). Still-Leben Ruhrschnellweg – Eine floristisch-faunistische
Kartierung der A40 in Bochum. Available at: Source link
5. Mulheim an der Ruhr Stadt am Fluss (2015). Radweg Rheinische Bahn. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
2. Bahntrassenradeln (2017). Bahntrassenradeln – Details. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
3. Ministerium für Bauen, Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (2016). RS1. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
4. CORINNE BUCH & ARMIN JAGEL. (2011). Still-Leben Ruhrschnellweg – Eine floristisch-faunistische
Kartierung der A40 in Bochum. Available at: Source link
5. Mulheim an der Ruhr Stadt am Fluss (2015). Radweg Rheinische Bahn. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 29, 2020).
Cycle route Rheinische Bahn (2018)
Photographer: Jochen Tack, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Sabine Noack
Cycle route Rheinische Bahn (2018
Photographer: Jochen Tack, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Sabine Noack