Bicycle demo in Munich: 700 activists demand a change in traffic!

Bicycle demo in Munich: 700 activists demand a change in traffic!

It's boiling in Munich! On Saturday, September 13, 2025, around 700 people came together for a cycling demonstration to protest against IAA Mobility. Thorsten Kellermann from the Federal Nature Conservation Association got straight to the point: The city needs to invest more in bicycle mobility and local public transport. It is urgently necessary to reduce traffic into the city center, Kellermann continued. One of his suggestions: a ring railway that could complement the existing S-Bahn system. The protesters agreed: the car is overrated at the IAA and alternatives are urgently needed.

The demonstration was organized by the associations VCD and BUND, which accuse the IAA Mobility of a lack of sustainability. “Bicycles and public transport are neglected,” criticized the activists. According to the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), however, a constructive dialogue for climate protection without ideological conflicts is necessary. No matter how different the opinions may be, the police reported that the demonstration was peaceful, without any significant incidents.

Activists are making their presence felt

They even blocked Leopoldstrasse to draw attention to their concerns. Around two dozen activists from the “resistance collective” occupied the road for several hours and made it abundantly clear that they were dissatisfied with current developments. One activist criticized the IAA as an expression of capitalist madness. The police were forced to initiate proceedings against unknown persons because no identifiable meeting leader was present at the unregistered meeting.

The protests could also be observed on the A9 motorway, where IAA opponents clung to the road, leading to massive traffic jams. “A clear sign that things cannot continue like this,” remarked one participant. In the run-up to the cycling demonstration, further protest actions had already been announced by various organizations in order to give more weight to the issue of sustainable mobility.

The next stage

Even after today's cycling demonstration, things will continue: another rally is being planned, where around 2,000 participants are expected to walk to Luitpoldpark. These actions clearly show that the population's demands for a transport transition and more climate protection are finding fertile ground. The ADFC is ready to support further events during IAA Mobility to promote awareness of sustainable mobility.

It will be exciting to see how the discussion about mobility will develop in the coming weeks. A look at the potential of bicycles to transform transport suggests that there is still a lot of potential here. Next time we're on the bike - maybe we'll think differently about the meeting between traditional automobiles and future-proof mobility.

For further information on the protests and the topic of sustainable mobility ADFC interesting insights.

There is more about the arguments and the role of bicycles in climate protection Mirror to read.

And last but not least: for detailed reporting on today's cycling demonstration, check out BR over.