Future of Nextbike in Berlin: Is the rental bike offer on the brink?

Future of Nextbike in Berlin: Is the rental bike offer on the brink?

Berlin, Deutschland - nag/nag editors -

The future of the popular rental bike provider Nextbike in Berlin is on the brink! Despite a high demand that the company gives itself, the contract with the Senate Administration expires at the end of 2024. This support is particularly important because Nextbike is also active in the outdoor districts. According to a report by RBB24 The public bicycle rental system, which has been in operation since 2017, has not yet been advertised again. The Senate Department has declared that both a tender and a contract extension depend on the budget situation that has not yet been passed.

NEXTBIKE currently offers around 6,500 rental bikes in the capital, which are distributed at around 2,900 stations. These bikes can be borrowed from festivals and virtual stations as well as jelbi mobility points. Anyone who gives the bikes outside of these stations must expect higher fees. The demand for rental bikes has increased significantly this year, with around four million trips until mid -November. However, the contract with NextBike was already shortened by 250,000 euros for 2024 due to budget cuts, such as Tagesschau reported.

uncertain future for outdoor districts

The situation is particularly worrying for the outdoor districts of Berlin. NextBike has announced that the offer could be maintained to a significantly reduced extent without public funds. This means that the rental bikes will probably only be available in the city center, where demand is economically viable. In the outskirts, where the use was not previously profitable, the offer could be severely restricted.

In the city center, on the other hand, there is a high concentration of potential users, including tourists, commuters and locals. These often use the rental bikes for short distances, which leads to a higher rotation rate. Most Nextbike stations are located in the central districts such as Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, where the bicycle infrastructure is better developed.

political reactions and future plans

The uncertainty about the future of the rental system has already triggered political reactions. Associations are demanding the preservation of the Berlin Mobility Act to promote sustainable mobility. The Senate also plans to expand the rental bicycle system in Berlin to up to 10,000 bikes in order to improve the supply, especially in the outskirts. There are currently districts in which there are no rental bikes available, which underlines the need for a comprehensive solution.

The coming months will be crucial to clarify how it will continue with Nextbike and the rental wheel system in Berlin. The city is faced with the challenge of maintaining an attractive and functioning rental loading range, while the financial framework must be checked at the same time. The decision about the future of the rental operator could have far -reaching effects on mobility in the capital.