New cycling route links Bottrop and Gladbeck via disused railway line

A new cycling route is being built to connect Bottrop's city centre with Gladbeck-Ellinghorst. The project forms part of the wider 'Mid-Ruhr Express Bike Route' (RS7) and will link directly to the existing Ruhr Express Bike Route 1 (RS1). Local officials have praised the progress made so far. Construction is currently focused on a three-kilometre stretch along a disused railway line. This section runs from Bottrop to the base of the Beckstraße slag heap. Once completed, it will make up nearly half of the full Bottrop-Gladbeck connection.

The path will feature a four-metre-wide paved surface and full lighting for safety. Officials estimate the cost at around €4.5 million, with 90% of the funding coming from the state. The first phase is expected to finish by next year. Bottrop's Mayor Matthias Buschfeld, Technical Deputy Klaus Müller, and Gladbeck Mayor Bettina Weist recently visited the site. They expressed satisfaction with how the work is advancing. The remaining stretch to Gladbeck-Ellinghorst is scheduled for completion by 2030.

The new route will improve cycling links between Bottrop and Gladbeck. It will also connect to the broader Ruhr Express Bike Route network. Once fully operational, the path aims to provide a safer and more efficient travel option for cyclists in the region.