The best traffic-free bike rides around Rüsselsheim am Main

With a total length of 527 kilometers, the Main is the longest right-hand tributary of the Rhine and flows as a lifeline through the heart of the entire Rhine-Main region. It officially originates near Kulmbach in Bavaria through the confluence of its two source rivers, the Red Main and the White Main. On its westward journey, the river winds in characteristic loops through Franconia and Hesse, past major metropolises such as Würzburg, Offenbach, and Frankfurt, before finally flowing into the Rhine near Mainz-Kastel (opposite Mainz). For the region, the Main holds immense economic importance as a major shipping route, as it forms a continuous waterway from the North Sea to the Black Sea via the Main-Danube Canal. In addition to its industrial role, the river has been transformed over the past decades into one of the most important areas for local recreation and culture. Kilometers of green spaces stretch along its banks, such as the Frankfurt Mainufer or the promenades in Rüsselsheim and Höchst, offering space for sports, gastronomy, and relaxation. The popular, largely flat Main Cycle Path accompanies the river along its entire length, connecting historic old towns, wine regions, and modern cityscapes. Furthermore, the river significantly shapes the region's climate and nature and serves as a habitat for numerous protected water birds and fish species.

Historical Age: The bridge was built around 1877 (twelve years after the harbor opened) and is today considered one of the oldest still preserved swing bridges in all of Germany. For this reason, the steel truss construction is an important cultural monument under strict heritage protection. Technical Dimensions & Function: The structure has a length of 37.50 meters, a width of 4.50 meters, and weighs around 54 tons. The original mechanical rotation mechanism ensured for decades that the bridge could be swung to the side at any water level to allow larger ships to pass into the harbor basin. Modernization: After the historical rotation mechanism was irreparably damaged and jammed in 1996, the bridge was fundamentally reconstructed in 2009. The historical appearance of the top chords was preserved, while the outdated mechanics were replaced by a state-of-the-art hydraulic rotation system. Location & Significance: It connects the Stresemann-Ufer (Old Town side near the Hyatt Hotel) directly with the Victor-Hugo-Ufer on the upstream mole. Today, it serves exclusively as an important, highly frequented connection for pedestrians and cyclists and is an integral part of recreational routes such as the popular Mainzer Drei-Brücken-Weg.

Here at the Mainspitze (Main's confluence) there are some great seating stones for resting.

The area south of the Main River's confluence with the Rhine is known as the Mainspitze. This area includes the two so-called Mainspitze municipalities of Ginsheim-Gustavsburg and Bischofsheim, which were districts of Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, from 1930 to 1946 and now belong to the Groß-Gerau district in Hesse.

The Mainz South Bridge (also known as the Mainz-South Railway Bridge, and at times as the Mainz-Gustavsburg Railway Bridge) is a railway bridge on the Mainz–Frankfurt railway line, spanning the Rhine at river kilometer 496.4 and connecting Mainz in Rhineland-Palatinate with Gustavsburg in Hesse. A footbridge attached to the north side of the bridge allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river.

From the railway bridge you have a magnificent view of the entire region, especially Mainz and the Taunus

Best cycle path

Here stands a large sculpture by Adam Opel