Load bikes in Hesse: Free alternative for shopping trips!

Load bikes in Hesse: Free alternative for shopping trips!

In Hesse, the loan of bicycles is now a widespread practice. But while conventional bicycles are easily available, the Transport of larger purchases or other large goods is often more difficult. At this point, the cargo bikes come into play, which can be borrowed free of charge in several cities or for a small fee.

The "Main Lastrad" initiative has established itself as one of the largest offers since its foundation in Frankfurt and Offenbach in 2018. According to Mathias Biemann from the Traffic Club Germany (VCD), the electrical cargo bikes are very popular. "The demand is good," says Biemann, and this is hardly surprising when you consider that electric motors are particularly advantageous at larger loads.

Free leeways in Offenbach

The city of Offenbach has been involved in this area since the end of 2021. The cargo bikes are strategically distributed to retailers and bicycle shops in the area, which then act as free rental stations. This step aims to reduce the dependence on cars and to promote environmentally friendly alternatives for everyday transports, be it for daycare trips, large shopping or excursions.

The use of the cargo bikes of allotment gardeners is particularly positive, which they are happy to use for the transport of green section. With the idea of sharing, the offer addresses a broader target group that does not necessarily want to buy its own cargo bike.

New service in Marburg and Gießen

A rental system for e-cargo bikes in Marburg was only recently introduced. The company Nextbike, which already runs a bike rental in the city, is responsible for this. The "Free Loads" initiative is also involved in the surrounding Biedenkopf region under the motto "Load the wheel - not the environment" for environmentally friendly transport options.

In Gießen, the first cargo bikes are to be integrated into the existing rental system from Nextbike this year. This offer is aimed at parents and other users who occasionally want to transport larger loads, and thus becomes more environmentally friendly than a car ride.

In this city there is also a volunteer offer called all-wheel drive Gießen and a small commercial offer from the company Sigo, which offers rental stations for e-cargo bikes in other cities.

Darmstadt and Wiesbaden: Various approaches

Darmstadt, on the other hand, presents itself with the "Heinerbikes", an offer based on volunteering and crowdfunding. The city offers 24 cargo bikes for free borrowing, which are stationed in strategic places such as supermarkets and universities. These are becoming increasingly popular and are now an integral part of urban mobility.

In comparison, Wiesbaden faces financial challenges. There is no urban rent system here, but companies like Sigo are active and offer e-load bikes at several locations for a fee. An initiative called "Lilja" enables free borrowing at other locations. The city administration basically sees bikesharing as a valuable addition to public transport, but sees itself restricted by the tense budget.

Kassel, on the other hand, plans to promote the cargo bike rental systems by a local program. This stipulates that at least one e-cargo wheel is purchased at each local district to promote mobility without a car.

Overall, these examples show a clear trend of Hessian cities to turn to more environmentally friendly mobility solutions. The rental system for cargo bikes could play a central role in making access to the means of transport easier and at the same time reducing car traffic.