Expansion Plan: Enhancing the E-bike Stock of Wiener Linien by 300 Units
Vienna, Austria is set to enhance its bike fleet with an electric boost, as Wiener Linien, the city's public transport operator, launches a pilot project with 300 electric-assisted rental bikes. The pilot project, which began in March 2024, has already attracted over 1,100 users and 12 local shops, demonstrating Vienna's commitment to integrating electric mobility into its smart city and sustainable transportation initiatives.
The e-bikes, provided by mobility service provider nextbike, will be easily identifiable with distinctive battery packs and a lightning symbol on the rear wheel. They are primarily designed for people to cover longer distances or overcome height differences in Vienna. To book an e-bike, users will need to download the nextbike app.
Regular customers of Wiener Linien and holders of a climate ticket will receive a welcome bonus of two free rides of 30 minutes each. The e-bikes will be available at over 250 WienMobil stations, which form part of the comprehensive WienMobil bike infrastructure that has been active since April 2022. The infrastructure includes over 3,000 rental bikes at more than 250 stations in all 23 districts.
The pilot project will run until the end of October 2026. Maintenance and battery charging for the e-bikes will be handled by nextbike. The price for using an e-bike is three euros per half hour, with a maximum daily price of 36 euros.
Wiener Linien CEO Alexandra Reinagl states that the new e-bikes offer a broader range for such purposes, while Vienna's transport councillor Ulli Sima highlights the importance of the new e-bike offer in achieving the city's climate goals. The decision on whether the e-bikes will permanently expand the bike fleet and become a part of Vienna's cityscape will be made after the test run.
Last year, WienMobil bikes were rented out around one million times, saving approximately 514 tons of CO2 emissions compared to car journeys, according to Wiener Linien. With the addition of the e-bikes, the city aims to further reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable transportation.
The success of the pilot project has already been evident, with the increasing use of bicycles in Vienna. The cycling modal share currently stands at 11%. The pilot project is part of a larger effort by the city to encourage more people to choose cycling as a mode of transportation, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable city.
- The distinctive battery packs and a lightning symbol on the rear wheel will make the new e-bikes provided by nextbike easily identifiable in Vienna's bike fleet.
- The pilot project of electric-assisted rental bikes, launched by Wiener Linien, aims to integrate electric mobility into Vienna's smart city and sustainable transportation initiatives.
- The e-bikes will primarily be used for people to cover longer distances or overcome height differences in Vienna, with the price for using an e-bike set at three euros per half hour, with a maximum daily price of 36 euros.
- To promote sustainable transportation, the Vienna cityscape may potentially embrace the new e-bikes permanently, as the decision will be made after the test run, considering the project's success in reducing carbon footprint.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts might find it beneficial to choose cycling for short commutes, as the pilot project is part of a larger effort to encourage more people to adopt cycling as a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation in Vienna, currently with a cycling modal share of 11%.
