Help Page

If a route passes through federal states that are not yet connected to the partner network, the Bicycle Route Planner Germany calculates that section itself. This section is shown as "Alternative Routing" in the route overview. Currently connected partner states are Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia. Routes through other federal states (e.g. Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, or Schleswig-Holstein) are therefore calculated as Alternative Routing. Note: the route planner covers Germany only. Points outside Germany are not supported.

The following options are available:

1. Start, destination, and any number of intermediate stops - via the search field or by clicking (desktop) or tapping (smartphone/tablet) on the map
2. Reverse direction - swaps all waypoints in reverse order and recalculates the route immediately
3. Routing options - click "Settings" in the side menu to enable or disable the following:
   • Prefer D-routes - prioritizes the 13 official German long-distance cycling routes (D-routes 1-13)
   • Avoid inclines - selects routes with as little elevation change as possible
   • Show/hide D-routes on the map with the corresponding legend
   • Show your current position as a map button

The route planner prefers designated cycling routes on signposted themed routes and avoids heavily used main roads. The result is a bike-friendly route - not the shortest possible connection. If the "Avoid inclines" option is active, the route also avoids steep climbing sections. To influence the route more precisely, you can add intermediate stops or drag the route directly on the map.

In the route overview, each section is assigned to the responsible partner state. Click "Detail view" on a section to open the regional route planner of that federal state directly with the corresponding route section. Currently available: Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia.

The Bicycle Route Planner Germany is a central system. For a routing request, it automatically determines which partner-state planners are responsible for which sections and requests the optimal partial route from each of them. The calculation favors signposted cycling routes and avoids main roads. All partial routes are combined into one complete route and displayed seamlessly.

For regions without a connected partner planner, the central system performs the calculation itself (marked as "Alternative Routing"). Calculation starts automatically as soon as start and destination are set - every change to waypoints or options immediately triggers a new calculation.

After route calculation, you can download the route as a GPX file:

1. Full route: click "Full GPX" - exports all sections as one connected file including elevation data.
2. Single section: in the section list, each section has its own "GPX" button to export only that part.

Note: the GPX file can be transferred to cycling navigation devices and smartphone apps.

Several options are available:

1. Add intermediate stops - via the search field or by clicking (desktop) or tapping (smartphone/tablet) on the map
2. Drag the route on the map - click and drag any point on the calculated route; a new intermediate stop is inserted automatically at the correct position
3. Reorder intermediate stops in the sidebar - change the order via drag-and-drop
4. Reverse direction - flip all waypoints with one click
5. Change routing option - switch between "Prefer D-routes," "Avoid inclines," and standard (under "Settings" in the side menu)
6. Remove a single waypoint - via the context menu on the map or the X next to the corresponding entry in the sidebar
7. Delete the entire route - via the "Delete" button in the sidebar

Click with the left mouse button (desktop) or tap (smartphone/tablet) anywhere on the map. A context menu appears with the options:

1. "Set as start"
2. "Add stop"
3. "Set as destination"

If you tap a D-route, the additional option "Select D-route" appears to plan the route along that official route. Already set intermediate stops can also be removed via the same menu.

After route calculation, a preview of the elevation profile appears below the map. Click it (on smartphone: "Elevation profile" tab) to open the full profile. It shows:

1. Elevation in meters above NHN (Normal Height Zero) on the Y-axis
2. Distance traveled on the X-axis
3. Interactive tooltip on hover: exact distance and elevation at each point
4. Numbered waypoint markers along the profile

Your route is automatically saved in the browser URL - all waypoints and settings are included. Simply copy the link from the address bar and send it by email or messenger. Anyone who opens the link sees the same route with all waypoints and routing options.

Alternatively, you can export the route as a GPX file ("Full GPX" button) and transfer it to another device.

The route planner is fully optimized for touch controls. Open the website in your mobile browser - no separate app is required. The interface adapts automatically.

Controls:

1. Tap on the map to open the menu for setting waypoints
2. Swipe to move the map, pinch with two fingers to zoom in/out

At the bottom of the screen, there are four tabs:

1. Planner - waypoint input and routing options
2. Route - total distance, elevation gain, and GPX download
3. Elevation profile - interactive elevation profile
4. Sections - all route sections by partner state, each with its own GPX download