Families with children appreciate them, delivery services and small companies are using them more and more, and they can be seen more and more in German cities. Cargo bikes – in Neudeutsch Cargobikes – make their way through the inner cities emission-free, mainly electrically supported and sometimes more, sometimes less heavily loaded.
In fact, a lot is already changing – but it is politically controversial and not a matter of course how German cities are paving the way for bicycles at the expense of cars. This is shown by examples in Berlin, Leipzig and other cities. Political parties are arguing massively about the expansion of cycle paths, an administration is blocking the release of cycle lanes that have already been completed, or tens of thousands are demanding that car lanes be preserved in Leipzig.
Germany is still a long way from the forecast two million cargo bikes. But cargo bikes surprised with strong growth rates until the end of last year: Around 213,000 cargo bikes were sold by dealers and manufacturers in 2022 – an increase of 27.4 percent compared to 2021, reports the German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV). The support provided by an electric motor is becoming increasingly important for users: sales of e-cargo bikes climbed to 165,000 last year – up 37.5 percent. This makes e-cargo bikes one of the fastest growing model groups in the German bicycle industry. Overall e-bike sales grew much more slowly, by 10 percent to 2.2 million.