With the creation of a bicycle boulevard on Hintere Bleiche, the state capital of Mainz is systematically expanding its inner-city bicycle network. This measure is part of a comprehensive reorganization of the traffic network in connection with the completion of the tram line on Binger Straße and has a clear goal: to better coordinate the various modes of transportation in the future and to guide bicycle traffic along a safe, easy-to-follow route through the city center with as few conflicts as possible.

On Monday, August 3, 2026, marking work for the bike lane will begin. This will complement the improvements currently underway on Binger Straße, on the Alicenbrücke, and at the West Main Station. Together, these measures form an optimized mobility corridor between the main train station, the city center, and the Rhine, which strengthens public transit while effectively complementing the bicycle network.

“By closing the gap in the tram line, we are not only creating a new connection for public transit. We are also seizing this unique opportunity to further develop the entire street space. This naturally includes a bicycle network that is easy to navigate, safe, and suitable for everyday use. The bike lane on Hintere Bleiche is therefore not a standalone project, but an important component of the overall concept that better connects the various modes of transportation,” explains Janina Steinkrüger, Director of the Department of Environment and Mobility. 

More and more people in Mainz are using different modes of transportation to get around on a daily basis. They walk, ride the bus and tram, bike, or drive—and often switch between these options. This diversity presents the city with the challenge of designing the existing street space so that all road users can get around as safely, clearly, and smoothly as possible. 

Running parallel to Große Bleiche and Kaiserstrasse, Hintere Bleiche provides a direct connection between the main train station, the city center, and the Rhine. “Hintere Bleiche is already an important route for cyclists. With the bike street, we’re strengthening a route that has long proven itself in everyday life. We’re now officially giving it the status it already holds within our cycling network,” said Steinkrüger. 

The establishment of the bike boulevard is closely linked to the completion of the tram line on Binger Straße. The new route will also create new stops, additional track areas, and complex traffic patterns, particularly around Münsterplatz. There, cyclists will have to cross several tracks in the future and navigate a challenging intersection. 

Hintere Bleiche deliberately offers an attractive alternative here. Those who use this route can bypass many of the complex traffic areas and still reach the city center directly from the main train station. 

Of course, Hintere Bleiche will remain accessible to residents as well as for delivery traffic, tradespeople, service providers, and other authorized vehicles. The street will therefore be marked with the additional sign “Residents Only.” Access to residences, shops, doctors’ offices, or delivery destinations will thus remain possible.

In addition, individual parking spaces—particularly near intersections—will be adjusted, sight lines will be improved, and Hintere Bleiche will be designated as a priority road in the future. The goal is to create the safest and most clearly organized traffic flow possible—for everyone involved. 

“Good traffic planning connects different forms of mobility—and that is exactly what the Binger Straße expansion project stands for: We are creating an efficient, integrated system in which trams, buses, bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic (including accessibility), and car traffic all have their place and work together. This makes our city a better place to live and ensures our mobility is sustainable for the future,” said Steinkrüger.