Station cycle park: climate-friendly travel by bike and rail

From large bicycle car parks to collective locking systems and bicycle boxes: the options for safely parking your bike or e-bike at the station are constantly growing. This is good for travellers and the environment. This overview shows what bicycle parking facilities are available, how they work and what advantages the various options offer.

By:
Miriam Müller
Updated:
A young woman rides her bike up to the entrance of a station.

Many people enjoy cycling to the station and appreciate secure parking facilities. 

Bicycle parking at railway and public transport stations

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More and more people are using bicycles, public transport and a combination of bike and train. However, safe and secure bicycle parking is often a problem, especially at train stations. According to the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport and Deutsche Bahn, there will be a demand for up to 1.5 million additional bicycle parking spaces at German train stations by 2030.

Because there are too few secure parking spaces, many commuters have to park their bicycles and e-bikes in unsuitable places. This increases the risk of theft. The expansion of secure bicycle parking is important to further promote environmentally friendly travel.

Bike+Ride initiative: more space for climate protection

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Together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Deutsche Bahn has launched the Bike+Ride initiative. The aim is to create more than 1.5 million bicycle parking spaces at the approximately 5,400 train stations in Germany. This should make travelling by train and bike easier and safer. Deutsche Bahn is providing municipalities and local authorities with their own space rent-free. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is supporting this project with financial assistance.

Eingang zum Fahrradparkhaus in einem modernen, hellen Betongebäude am Bahnhof München-Pasing.
The cycle park at Munich-Pasing station makes it easy to combine the train and bike safely.

Please park your bicycle securely in the bicycle car park

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Security plays a crucial role in combining bicycles and trains in an environmentally friendly way. According to surveys, cyclists who are able to use bicycle parking garages are particularly satisfied with the security precautions.
A bicycle parking garage is a building or underground car park. It offers plenty of space to park bicycles and e-bikes easily and securely. Bike parks offer a high level of protection against theft and the weather. They come in different types, varying in size, design and facilities. Often, there are additional services such as repair stations, lockers and charging stations for e-bikes. Some have space for hundreds, others for thousands of bicycles. In Germany, the bicycle parking garage at Münster Hbf is one of the largest, with over 3,500 spaces. Such facilities are a model for cities that want to promote bicycle traffic.
Many bicycle parking garages have video surveillance. Only authorised persons have access. There is often security personnel on site to help with questions and problems. These measures make bicycle parking garages a safe option for commuters.

How do bicycle parks work?

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Cyclists can either book their parking spaces online or get a ticket at the pay machine on site. The parking spaces are numbered so that it is always clear where the bicycle can be parked. This principle, which is well known from multi-storey car parks, allows bicycles and e-bikes to be parked and found again quickly and easily. In addition, many bicycle parking garages offer apps to manage bookings and access. These apps allow interested parties to check availability in real time and reserve a parking space in advance.

Cycle park: costs and booking

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Bicycle parking garages can be found at numerous train stations in major German cities. Booking is usually done conveniently online via the websites or apps of the respective providers. The average costs vary depending on the location, size and facilities. Factors such as the number of parking spaces, the availability of security systems and additional services such as charging stations for e-bikes can also influence the price. Most bicycle parking garages offer various options for the duration of the booking:

  • by the hour
  • for one day
  • for one week
  • annual ticket

Annual season tickets are a cost-effective and practical solution for commuters who regularly park their bikes at the station. This allows the bike to be parked safely and conveniently every day.

The advantages of cycle parks

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  • Security: canopies and locked areas minimise the risk of theft
  • Protection: bicycles are protected from the weather, such as rain, snow and sun
  • Comfort: there are often offers such as repair stations, lockers and charging options for e-bikes
  • Flexible booking options: bookings are often available by the hour, day, month or year

Further parking facilities for bicycles at the station

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Bicycle boxes 

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Bike boxes are compact, sturdy garages for bicycles. They are made of metal to protect bikes from theft, dirt and rain. Each box has space for a bike and accessories such as bags or helmets. Many of these boxes are equipped with sockets for e-bikes so that the battery can be charged while the bike is safely stored.

Bike boxes keep bikes safe and secure and prevent them from being damaged.
Bike boxes keep bikes safe and secure and prevent them from being damaged.

The advantages of bike boxes

  • Security: protection against theft and damage
  • Weather protection: bicycles stay clean and dry
  • Convenience: additional storage space for accessories such as bags or helmets
  • E-charging: charging sockets for e-bikes at many locations
  • Flexibility: short and long-term rentals are usually available

Collective locking systems

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Up to 24 bikes can be stored in the collective locking systems. These systems are mainly found at train stations where space is limited. Since only authorised persons have access to the dry containers, they offer great protection against theft. The doors can be opened, for example, via PIN code or app.

The advantages of collective locking systems

  • Security: high protection against theft and damage
  • Secured access: opening of the doors via app, RFID card or PIN code
  • Weather protection: the roof and enclosure protect against rain, snow and hail
  • Flexibility: short and long-term rentals are usually available


Discover more content

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Bicycle services at the train station

At many stations we already offer you a wide range of services for your bike

A young woman with a bicycle using a cell phone in the city.

Bike hire at the station: The big overview

Exploring new cities or landscapes is easy by bike

A cycle path with cyclists by the river.

Bicycle boxes at the station: Secure options for parking bicycles

An overview of the locations at our stations

Two cyclists on a cycle path in the park.