Kiel cancels 30 free minutes from the sprat fleet – what happens now?

Kiel cancels 30 free minutes from the sprat fleet – what happens now?

The recent discussions in the Kiel council meeting have brought the future of the popular sprat fleet into focus. This bike rental initiative, which is an everyday means of transport for many Kiel citizens, could soon become less attractive. How kn-online.de reports, the city of Kiel plans to reduce the financial contribution for the sprat fleet by 50,000 euros to 300,000 euros annually for the years 2026 and 2027. This measure could jeopardize free use of bikes for the first 30 minutes, a popular offer that has boosted usage in recent years.

The reactions to this news did not take long to arrive. The Left/The Party faction in particular is concerned about the possible effects of these cuts and sees the abolition of free minutes as anti-social. “We fear a decline in the number of users,” explained a representative of the group. SPD councilor Sönke Klettner, on the other hand, remains optimistic and emphasizes that the sprat fleet can continue to exist even without the free minutes. He is supported by Arne Langniß from the Greens, who suggests finding creative solutions in the next budget to get the free minutes back.

A setback for the mobility transition?

Frederik Meißner, spokesman for the Kiel VCD, warns of the consequences of canceling the free minutes. He explains that the sprat fleet is closely linked to these minutes and its abolition could weaken both acceptance and social participation in the city. There is no social ticket in Kiel, which makes the situation even more difficult for lower-income citizens. The sprat fleet not only offers a cheap alternative to overcrowded buses, but is also an important part of the mobility transition in the city. In addition, free use in the first 30 minutes leads to high rental numbers compared to the rest of the country and plays a crucial role in the social integration of users.

Like the study from bikepulse.de shows, bicycle mobility can significantly expand the radius of action of people with little income and contribute to improving social participation. The study, which comes from the Social2Mobility II research project, has identified a number of measures that can help promote bicycle mobility. These range from free rental of bicycles and accessories to bicycle campaign days and cycling courses.

Further developments in the city

The council meeting didn't just decide on the sprat fleet. Under the motto “Clean Kiel”, a comprehensive ten-point plan against waste in the city was introduced, which applies to all parts of the city. This includes, among other things, additional free bulky waste appointments and the replacement of open wastebaskets with closed systems. The Left/The Party faction also launched an important campaign called “Not without us” to make the role and importance of migrants in urban society visible.

From the 2026/2027 school year, students will have to adapt to changes in the canteens of Kiel schools. Due to financial constraints, the canteens are reducing the selection from three to two dishes, which is supplemented by a buffet of side dishes to minimize food waste.

The current debate surrounding the sprat fleet and school meals has the potential to have far-reaching effects on youth and social participation in Kiel. It remains to be hoped that those responsible will take this into account when making their decisions and find innovative solutions that take into account both the needs of citizens and municipal budgets.