It’s been standing there for three years and is still waiting for users. The bicycle parking garage at Hamburg's Kellinghusenstrasse metro station was intended to be a beacon for the green transformation in transport policy. With its modern design, the building links the bicycle with two urban rail lines and several bus routes. Since its opening, however, most of the 600 parking spaces have remained empty. Local media called the parking garage an “embarrassing” planning error. The taxpayers’ association lobby group complained of a three-million-euro flop. Has the vision behind this prestigious building failed? Or does the green mobility transformation need a somewhat longer run-up? Either way – what can we learn from this combination of bicycle and public transport?
Even the former Federal German Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer invoked the vision of Germany as a cycling nation. And equally significant is the boom in e-bikes, which has created tremendous potential for the bicycle to become a means of transport for commuters. Whether for the entire journey or – particularly outside of cities – as a feeder vehicle for the train. However, the grand plans for expanding bicycle infrastructure were eventually followed by drastic cuts in federal government funding. This is why it is more important than ever to maximize the efficiency with which the available money is put to use.
Reinforcing the intermodal interconnection of bike and rail presents an option for creating a car-free alternative for commuters within the catchment areas of cities. What is needed for this and for a general increase in bicycle traffic is the subject of a study conducted by Fraunhofer ISI for the German Cyclists’ Association (ADFC): An analysis published in May claims that a threefold increase in the current share of overall traffic would be possible. In 2035, appropriate measures would enable a full 45 per cent of all journeys of up to 30 kilometres to be covered by bicycle.
In addition to investments in a nationwide cycle network on a par with that of the Netherlands and in the promotion of local accessibility – as in the concept of the 15-minute city, the researchers also attach great importance to public transport. Buses and trains have to be reasonably priced and offer sufficient space for passengers with bikes. Additional key issues would be “sufficiently large and secure parking spaces at all bus stops and stations” as well as the easiest possible access to these facilities.
Accessibility to the bicycle parking garage in Hamburg actually came in for criticism from the ADFC at the time of its opening. The design would force cyclists to dismount and push their bike into the building. “Multi-lane entrances in car parks where even traffic lights on the pavement to hold up pedestrians facilitate swift access were certainly not used as role models,” the ADFC teased. In the meantime, however, the access situation has been improved with a positive effect on usage. Yet, the actual construction of the building prevents convenient and fast access.
Inga Schlichting, Head of Product Management and Smart Cities at DB Station & Service, emphasizes the importance of the smoothest possible link between bike and rail. Among other areas, this unit of Deutsche Bahn is responsible for the offensive known as Bike+Ride. Instigated four years ago, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), this initiative is aimed at a major expansion of bicycle infrastructure at railways stations and bus stops. Together with the local authorities, it soon will have created 20,000 parking spaces. Projections are for a further 50,000.
The demand is in fact far higher says Inga Schlichting. By 2030, this figure would have to rise to one million – almost four times the current total of just under 400,000 parking spaces. The Bike+Ride offensive acts as an adviser for the responsible local authorities. Almost 1,000 of them have been or are involved in the implementation of projects. Inga Schlichting further estimates that some 20 per cent of all train stations and bus stops are covered. However, this also means that there is still a lot of work to do.
Inga Schlichting often receives feedback that the effort is worthwhile. The combination of bike and train is “often the fastest and most individual route,” she continues. This means placing the parking spaces as close to the platforms as possible, an essential requirement particularly at smaller commuter stations. Negotiating a distance of 100 metres or crossing traffic lights would negatively impact acceptance. The example in Hamburg is confirmation of this.
Short commuting times recruit people for the bicycle, while the effect of a change in behaviour retains them. In addition to health and fitness, car-free travel has now also become an image issue. “Many people perceive it as an enhancement of their mobility,” says Inga Schlichting.
This is why it is exciting to observe how a new prestigious project in Hannover is being received. At an estimated cost of 12 million euros, a former air-raid bunker at the central station is being converted into a bicycle parking garage with 1,100 spaces. At more than 10,000 euros per parking space, the individual investment costs here exceed the average by a factor of ten. On the other hand, initial visualizations of the project promise the residents of Hannover a bicycle parking garage that ranks alongside those of the Netherlands in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
Yet the projected facility is not even one tenth of the size of the world’s largest bicycle parking garage in Utrecht, which opened in 2019. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to observe how its usage develops. Initially, though, Inga Schlichting does not regard the many free spaces in the new facilities as a problem. On the contrary, “If we immediately had 100 per cent usage, there would be no spaces left for further fresh converts,” she points out. “New infrastructure must be designed for the future, not for the present.”
As far as the combination of bike and rail for commuters within and around cities is concerned, there are a number of developments already underway. Yet how suitable is the bicycle as a last-mile option for long-distance travellers? According to Fraunhofer ISI, in addition to the expansion of parking spaces, there is also a need to develop the facility for passengers to travel with their bikes. This, for example, is possible in the new ICE L train, which DB will be adding to its fleet from summer 2025. As is already the case in the ICE-4 train, eight spaces will be available for bicycles. At least this is good news for people who plan and book far in advance. On the other hand, those who travel frequently and spontaneously will still have to rely on folding bikes or rental services at their destination.
The subject of local rental bikes leads onto another target group that is playing an increasingly important role. “Tourists often want a bike at the station, yet at many destinations this is often only possible if transport has been ordered in advance,” says Inga Schlichting. For this reason, the Bike+Ride offensive is also trying to attract more rental providers to the stations. The challenge here is that the fleets of bikes are not used in the winter. As a result, the combination of arrival by train and bike rental at the destination is generally only possible if the local authority assumes responsibility, according to Inga Schlichting.
Researchers at Fraunhofer ISI have a further idea as to how the intermodal transport chain of bus, train and bike could become more popular while at the same time being significantly less expensive and faster to implement than a new bicycle parking garage. They recommend “resolute digitization” with the aim of “seamlessly integrating the bike into information and booking systems”. After all, before travellers think about how to get to the station by bike and where they may have to park it, they first have to be made aware that: The bike is not just another option for travelling to the train and then onwards to the final destination – it is often the fastest option.