Erlangen Launches Citywide VAG Bike-Sharing: Boosting Sustainable Mobility
Erlangen Launches Citywide VAG Bike-Sharing: Boosting Sustainable Mobility
Summary
The City of Erlangen has expanded the VAG_Rad bike-sharing system citywide, making bikes available at key stations like Rathaus/Neuer Markt, Hugenottenplatz, Waldkrankenhaus, and Siemens Campus, with more locations planned. Users can rent via the NürnbergMOBIL app in a flexible “Flexzone” in the city center, promoting seamless multimodal transport and last-mile connectivity. Mayor Florian Janik highlighted the system’s role in encouraging cycling and integration with public transit, with affordable pricing starting at 10 cents per ride.
Background
Operated by Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft (VAG), the Nuremberg-based transport authority, the VAG_Rad system brings reliable, basket-equipped bikes to Erlangen as part of broader efforts to enhance cycling infrastructure. Launched in Erlangen in 2024, it has already seen over 225,000 rentals, demonstrating strong uptake according to the city’s planning and transport office. The initiative aligns with Erlangen’s “Future Bicycle City Plan” and 2030 Mobility Strategy, which emphasize expanding bike lanes, parking, and routes—now including ten designated bike streets with new design guidelines. Bikes can be rented flexibly in the central Flexzone (bounded by Siemens Campus/Science Park to the south, Schwabacher Straße to the north, large parking areas to the west, and Kurt-Schumacher-Straße to the east), while outside this area, returns are station-only. Cargo bikes are also available at the train station for heavier loads, supporting diverse urban mobility needs.
Future Outlook
Erlangen plans to increase stations and bike numbers progressively, with real-time availability via the VAG_Rad website and app. VGN public transport subscribers benefit from 600 free minutes monthly (paying only the start fee), incentivizing integrated sustainable travel. This expansion positions Erlangen as a leader in Germany’s cycling-friendly cities, potentially inspiring similar multimodal systems worldwide by combining bike-sharing with robust infrastructure like dedicated lanes and expanded parking to meet 2030 targets.