New Bottrop-Gladbeck cycling route transforms old railway into green corridor

A new cycling route is under construction, linking Bottrop's city centre to Gladbeck-Ellinghorst. The path follows a disused railway line and will stretch from Bottrop to the base of the Beckstraße slag heap. Officials have praised the project's progress during a recent site visit. The first section of the bike path measures three kilometres in length. It features a four-metre-wide paved surface and full lighting along its entire route. Completion of this phase is expected by next year, with an estimated cost of €4.5 million—90% of which comes from state funding.

Once finished, this initial stretch will make up nearly half of the full Bottrop-Gladbeck connection. The remaining section, extending to Gladbeck-Ellinghorst, is scheduled for completion by 2030.

The finished route will form part of the 'Mid-Ruhr Express Bike Route' (RS7). It will also connect directly to the Ruhr Express Bike Route 1 (RS1), improving cycling links across the region.

Bottrop's Mayor Matthias Buschfeld, Technical Deputy Klaus Müller, and Gladbeck Mayor Bettina Weist recently toured the construction site. All three expressed satisfaction with how the work is advancing. The project will create a fully lit, wide cycling path between Bottrop and Gladbeck. The first phase alone will cost €4.5 million, with most funding provided by the state. Once complete, the route will integrate into the wider Ruhr cycling network.