2023-10-27 15:28:00
Cyclists in Frankfurt: Cycling can sometimes get you to your destination quicker and cheaper. Image: Stefanie Silber
It becomes easier to do without your own car. So far, only a few Germans have done this; even city dwellers say they need a car. It would be lucrative to say goodbye.
If you were looking for a symbol of a transport revolution in Germany, then it could only be one: the cargo bike. Sales are booming; last year alone there were around 200,000 cargo bikes, around three times as many as in 2019 before the pandemic. More than half a million are already traveling around Germany. They are mainly seen in the wealthy areas of large cities. Children often sit in the loading areas in front of the handlebars, but sometimes there are also a few purchases from the supermarket there.
Dirk Scherff
Editor in the “Value” department of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
Anyone who encounters the clunky vehicles might think that the Germans are in the middle of a mobility transition. One might think that they got rid of their cars and preferred more ecological means of transport. Especially since streets are being rebuilt everywhere and car traffic lanes and parking spaces are being reduced in favor of cyclists and pedestrians. E-scooters can be found on many street corners and rental bikes can be found at important transport hubs.
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