From Local Advocates to National Networks: The Rise of Cycling Infrastructure in Germany

Mobility in Germany is heavily influenced by the political power of the automobile industry. Unlike the construction of highways and major roads, the development of bicycle paths largely falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities. For a long time, there was little exchange between municipalities and no common strategy for networking or developing shared visions, norms, and funding opportunities to expand cycling infrastructure. It was only around the turn of the millennium that a programmatic group emerged, bringing together an initial core of predominantly local cycling advocates. What drove the formation of these programmatic groups? Through which social identities is this group held together? This paper examines these questions using document analysis and interviews, drawing on the Social Identity Approach and the Programmatic Action Framework.