- More bicycle stations and bicycle breakdown assistance
For cyclists in Saxony, there's an increasing number of service offerings for breakdowns. The ADAC is setting up seven new bike service stations in the Greater Leipzig area this year, equipped with tools and air pumps to perform minor repairs. The symbolic opening of one such station at the Schladitzer See is planned for Tuesday.
The ADAC has been offering a bike breakdown service since June 2022. With more members switching to cycling, the automobile club introduced this service to keep up with the rapidly changing mobility landscape. In 2023, the ADAC was called out to 15,680 bike breakdowns nationwide, according to spokesperson Florian Wagner. "For the ADAC, the bike breakdown service is a great success, as it's being increasingly used."
The bike club ADFC has been offering a breakdown service since 2016, which has been used over 1,600 times by its members. "The increase in bike breakdown services is naturally a good sign, as it also indicates that more people are cycling," explained Saxony's ADFC business manager Konrad Krause.
While the ADAC's offerings are a form of competition, Krause noted that the ADFC focuses entirely on the needs of cyclists. "We fix the tires and fight for safe bike lanes," he said.
Last year, the ADAC set up ten of its bike service stations in Saxony, including one at the Elbe Cycle Route. Each station costs around 3,000 euros to set up, according to spokesperson Wagner. Initially, vandalism was kept to a minimum, but it has since increased. "In the Leipzig area, we've had cases of stolen tools at some stations shortly after installation," Wagner said. Plans are currently underway to decide whether to expand the service offerings by 2025.
The European Union has shown interest in promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation, and the increasing number of service offerings in Saxony for cyclists aligns with this goal. Despite the challenges faced by organizations like the ADAC, such as vandalism at their bike service stations, the demand for such services is evident, underscoring the European Union's commitment to promoting cycling.
