Test conducted by ADAC: These Bike+Ride facilities are deemed "exceptional"
For individuals who commute to work by bicycle and then take the train, finding a secure spot to park their bike can sometimes be a challenge. Generally speaking, yes, it's usually manageable, but not without its hiccups.
Many bicycle parking spaces at suburban train stations are conveniently located and underutilized, yet sometimes they lack essential amenities. For instance, some stations lack shelters or adequate means to securely lock up your bike, as revealed by a test conducted by ADAC.
ADAC assessed 80 Bike+Ride facilities in the vicinity of ten major German cities with high commuter traffic. The outcome? Over two-thirds of these facilities scored well (42 "good" and 14 "very good"), while 19 were considered adequate and 5 were deemed "very inadequate."
The following stations in the suburbs of the mentioned cities were deemed "very good":
- Wusterhausen (Dosse) / Berlin
- Ritterhude and Oyten Sagehorn / Bremen
- Heusenstamm and Kelsterbach / Frankfurt/Main
- Sarstedt and Schwarmstedt / Hannover
- Eutin / Kiel
- Alfter-Impekoven and Jüchen / Cologne
- Dorfen / Munich
- Korntal, Renningen and Ebersbach (Fils) / Stuttgart
What was examined and what was positive
The examination focused on location, equipment, and the availability of free spaces in the bicycle parking areas. A significant positive was that 86% of the tested facilities met the requirements in the location category, as they were frequently found near the track and well-connected to the cycling network.
Interestingly, only about 10% of the evaluated train stations reported that the bicycle parking areas were "heavily utilized" or "overcrowded." This was also seen as a positive aspect by ADAC, as many stations still had at least 20% of their spaces vacant, often even more.
Where ADAC saw "room for improvement"
However, when it comes to equipment and added features, there is potential for enhancement, as per the transport club. Approximately a quarter of the parking spaces in the test lacked cover. Additionally, charging stations for e-bikes were not found at 84% of the train stations, and lockers were even less accessible at 94%. Furthermore, lockable facilities such as bike sheds or boxes were unavailable at half of the evaluated stations, and when they were, they were frequently fully booked.
The lowest grade was usually given due to the lack of options for front-wheel holders, which meant no secure way to lock the bicycle frame according to ADAC.
The facilities were tested outside of school holidays during the period from April to June 2024, each day from Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 16:00. The assessment system included gradings such as "very good," "good," "adequate," "inadequate," and "very inadequate."
The transport club, ADAC, found that many Bike+Ride facilities lack essential amenities, such as shelters or adequate bike locking mechanisms, as demonstrated in their test at various German stations. Despite the lack of these features, over two-thirds of the evaluated facilities were rated 'good' or 'very good' by ADAC.
