Nearly a quarter of Europeans are willing to use electric bikes for commuting, with 47% in the Netherlands, 39% in Spain, and 33% in Italy—the highest percentages in Europe. (According to the Environmental Information Center, August 26, 2024)
Germany is no exception. Besides being ranked among Europe's top 10 bicycle-friendly countries, Germany boasts a staggering 61 million cyclists! German cities also have a rental system similar to Taiwan's Ubike, but with no designated return points, you can park wherever you like. Isn't that fantastic? No need for a designated rental location – incredibly convenient!
Use the GPS search function on your phone's app to find the nearest bike parked. Once you find a bike, just shake your phone. This is very similar to Taiwan's shared bike-sharing app.
Electric scooters (E-Scooters) are also available for rental, even for foreigners. E-scooters have a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h. Regulations include: E-scooters can use bike lanes but not sidewalks; helmets are recommended, though not required; and drivers don't need a license, but must be at least 14 years old. The rental fee is €1, plus a 15-cent per-minute usage fee, making it quite affordable for short trips.
Eric Quidenus-Wahlforss, co-founder of the German startup Dance, said he founded Dance in the hope of making transportation and the environment better.
The company's policy is based on a "subscription-based service," combining the rental of lightweight electric vehicles with comprehensive after-sales service. This allows people to use electric vehicles without spending a fortune, thereby increasing their willingness to use them. The brand's electric bicycles and electric scooters will be officially launched in 2021. Subsequent warranty and anti-theft measures will also be incorporated into the service content. Users can request repairs through the official app, and the repair team will arrive at the user's designated location within one day to perform the repairs. Furthermore, when developing the vehicle body, Dance deliberately used parts that require special tools to disassemble, and installed an alarm system and GPS location tracking on the vehicle body, hoping to reduce the chance of the vehicle being stolen through these methods. I can only say that this is truly a very, very long-term vision!
Germany, which has already phased out nuclear power, is striving to become a green energy powerhouse. From the government down to grassroots businesses, everyone is finding ways to take action. Besides providing a friendly riding environment for cyclists, they also hope to contribute to a more sustainable planet.
