Questions and answers about rental bikes in Frankfurt
from FFM Aktuell

Rental bikes are currently experiencing a real boom in Frankfurt. There are now five providers who make their bikes available in the Main metropolis.<link https: www.frankfurt-tipp.de specials bike-sharing-fahrradverleih-in-frankfurt.html _blank> We have listed the providers HERE in a special times with all the necessary info.

As many advantages this new type of bike rental may have, it also brings some problems with it. Wildly parked bikes and vandalism are just two of the less nice aspects that providers and users face. Now the city has put together a few answers to the most important questions about rental bikes:

1) How many companies and rental bikes are there currently in Frankfurt?

There are currently five companies on the market: the railway subsidiary Call a Bike, Byke from Berlin, obike from Singapore, Nextbike from Leipzig and the Californian Limebike. According to the companies, around 6500 bikes should be available at the beginning of 2018. Other providers are watching the market and could join. There are no more precise details, as the rental companies do not need permission from the city and do not have to report the number of bikes.

<link https: www.frankfurt-tipp.de specials bike-sharing-fahrradverleih-in-frankfurt.html _blank>The business models differ. You can see how in our special.

2) What is the city doing to prevent a possible proliferation?

In principle, the transport department approves of the offers. Riding a bike is good for the environment and healthy. Customers benefit from competition among providers. Nevertheless, the administration has a critical eye on the rental companies after various complaints. They are cooperative and remove their bikes when necessary. The city has also drawn up a guideline for the companies. According to this, no more than ten bikes should be parked in one place. Bicycle racks are basically taboo for the colorful pedal mobiles.

Of course, the bikes must be roadworthy. Emergency lanes, bicycle paths and accesses to public transport must be kept clear. There must be enough space on sidewalks for wheelchairs and strollers to pass. Bicycles must not be permanently parked in parks and on grassy areas. If violators do not collect their vehicles within 24 hours, the city will pick them up.

3) If a car is parked in a no parking zone, it is quickly towed. Why doesn't that work for rental bikes?

Fundamentally, the intervention options are different compared to cars. Because bicycles are allowed to park practically everywhere. Of course, road traffic law applies, according to which it is taboo to obstruct others more than is unavoidable. But the phenomenon of large bike rentals is new territory, so there is little legal experience.

This is also shown by the examples of other cities such as Munich or Berlin. On the Spree, there is discussion about defining the rental of bicycles as a special use of street space that requires a permit. But it is unclear whether this is legally possible at all. What works in other places does not automatically work in Frankfurt. Because courts decide differently. It is also currently not possible to limit the number of vendors and bicycles. This is because there is no concession requirement as there is for taxis. In view of this unclear situation, the federal legislator is called upon to act. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities is already working on proposals.

4) What should citizens do if bikes block sidewalks, for example, or otherwise create an obstacle?

We recommend contacting the providers directly. To that end, the City has asked businesses to post a service phone number directly on bicycles. If the rental companies do not respond or no phone number is recognizable, the bicycle traffic reporting platform <link http: www.meldeplattform-radverkehr.de mphframesetfam.html _blank>

www.meldeplattform-radverkehr.de/mphFramesetFAM.html

<link https: www.facebook.com stadtffm videos _blank>You can find a small info film of the city of Frankfurt HERE