Frankenthal: Bicycle rental is booming – the contract should be extended!

Frankenthal: Bicycle rental is booming – the contract should be extended!

The bicycle rental system VRNnextbike is experiencing a positive upswing in Frankenthal, as is the case Rhine Palatinate reported. After a somewhat slow start in 2019, bicycle use has improved significantly in recent years. In 2022, almost 11,000 rentals were recorded at ten city-funded stations with a total of 48 bicycles. In comparison, there were only around 2,150 rentals in 2021, which impressively illustrates the trend towards using rental bikes.

But that's not all! The offer is supplemented by a station at the Amazon Römig location financed by nextbike, which provides 26 bikes. Frankenthal has created an attractive and well-connected system that is becoming increasingly popular. To ensure success, the city is planning to extend the existing contract with the Rhein-Neckar Transport Association (VRN), which expires in February 2027. The Mobility Committee will meet on June 17th at 5 p.m. in the JM Center at Nachtweideweg 1-7, where further details will be discussed.

Sustainable mobility and ease of use

The rise of the VRNnextbike system in Frankenthal reflects a larger trend that other cities in Germany are also following. According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, which was published under the title “Innovative public bicycle rental systems - New mobility in cities”, model projects show that well-planned bicycle rental systems can have positive effects on urban mobility. These surveys provide important insights into the conditions for success and challenges of such systems.

The practical advantages of VRNnextbike include the easy registration, which is free. Users only need to deposit a travel credit of 1 euro to verify their payment method. Available bikes can be displayed filtered using the user-friendly app and the frame lock can be conveniently opened by scanning a QR code. Users can also pause their rental at any time by stopping the trip in the app and closing the lock. The journey will continue to be charged under the same conditions.

Expansion of the offer

A particularly practical feature is the availability of cargo bikes that can be rented in Mannheim, Ladenburg and Dossenheim. Ideal for families or those looking to run larger errands! But you should pay attention to this: cargo bikes must be returned to special stations, otherwise a service fee of 20 euros will apply if they are left in an unintended location.

The future looks promising for VRNnextbike. Frankenthal could soon not only extend the existing offer, but perhaps even expand it further. The pursuit of environmentally friendly mobility is firmly anchored in urban planning, and how VRNnextbike The website shows that combining ecological aspects with user-friendly services is highly valued by citizens. At a time when sustainable mobility is very popular, Frankenthal is certainly taking a good step in the right direction.