Overview
- A representative Forsa survey published June 3, 2026, of 1,003 people for RTL and ntv found 36 percent of German cyclists always wear a helmet and 35 percent never do.
- The poll lists the main reasons for not wearing helmets as short trips (42 percent), discomfort (23 percent), forgetfulness (21 percent), a tight fit (18 percent), confidence in careful riding (17 percent) and appearance (14 percent).
- Preliminary 2025 data from the Federal Statistical Office show 462 cyclist deaths last year, including 217 Pedelec (E‑bike) users, a 3.8 percent rise from 2024 and a 20.6 percent increase since 2015 attributed largely to Pedelec fatalities.
- Public support is strong for regulation: 54 percent of respondents favor a general helmet mandate and another 12 percent want rules at least for E‑bikes, while Germany currently has no nationwide helmet law according to the ADFC.
- Rising E‑bike speeds and wider E‑bike use raise the chance of severe head injuries, which could prompt targeted rules for electric bikes, sharper safety campaigns, and calls for infrastructure or product changes to protect younger and non‑helmeted riders.