Taking bikes on the train: How cheap (or expensive) it is to take your bike on the train

Since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket, travelling has become easier. According to the Association of German Transport Companies, around 11.2 million people use the 49-euro ticket every month. However, it does not cover the carriage of bicycles. Moreover, not everyone wants to take out a subscription. The problem of finding the right ticket therefore remains for cycling enthusiasts. The cycling experts from Buycycle second-hand portal have carried out an analysis to find out where in Germany it is best to travel by bike on the railway.

Bicycle transport in the city: strong regional differences

How expensive it is to take a bike on the train varies greatly from region to region. The ranking resulting from the study compares prices for day and bicycle tickets in 40 major German cities as well as prices and value for money in the most important transport associations.

Saarbrücken offers the cheapest bike transport among the 40 cities analysed. A day ticket there costs 5.60 euros and the bike travels free of charge. This is otherwise only the case in Chemnitz, Stuttgart, Hanover, Freiburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Frankfurt and Mannheim. Exceptions to this are during off-peak or peak times. In all other cities that were part of the study, taking a bike costs between one and 6.50 euros. In Berlin, on the other hand, if you want to take your bike on local transport, you pay a hefty 17.30 euros for the combination of train and bike ticket.

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Beyond the city limits: bicycle transport in various transport associations

Day trips by bike are becoming increasingly popular. According to the ADFC, over 37 million people in Germany used their bikes for holidays and day trips in 2023. Anyone who gets on their bike in the morning and travels some distances by public transport can experience a personal adventure away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The prerequisite for this is a suitable network ticket, which allows you to explore entire regions flexibly. The network fares vary not only in price, but also in their range. The following ranking takes into account both the cost of the tickets and the range they offer.

In the Saarland network area, the local transport offer for cyclists is the most favourable. A day ticket for the network costs €10.20, and the €4.50 cycle ticket is only required before 9 a.m. The best value for money (euros per kilometre) is offered by the network ticket for the Rhine-Neckar region. The local transport network covers almost 200 kilometres. A ticket for one day costs 17.80 euros. A bicycle ticket is only required on working days between 6 and 9 a.m. Price. 9.70 euros. Last place in this ranking goes to the Rhine-Sieg transport association. A day ticket here costs 34.20 euros. For comparison: The SchönerTagTicket NRW is similarly expensive at 34.80 euros, which offers cyclists significantly more destinations to choose from.

Taking bikes on the train: questions about questions

The analysis shows that German public transport is also complex for cyclists. Although it is possible to take your own bike with you in many regions with additional tickets, there are a few details to consider. You should pay particular attention to the following points when planning a trip:

• Can I take my bike with me at any time or only at certain times (free of charge)?
• Can you take your bike with you on any form of public transport or are buses, for example, excluded?
• What kind of ticket do you need for a bicycle?
• How much space is provided for bicycles and are they only allowed in certain carriages?

Bicycles on the railway: summary of the analysis

The creators of the study - the bicycle platform buycycle - came to the following conclusion: The flexible combination of environmentally friendly modes of transport such as bicycles, buses and trains is essential for sustainable mobility in the future. The current ranking shows that Germany already offers many opportunities for this compatibility. Nevertheless, in many places there are restrictions on taking your own bike with you, so a successful trip requires not only good planning but also a bit of luck. Choosing the right ticket is also a challenge, especially if you are travelling in unfamiliar regions of Germany.

The Central Saxony Transport Association provides a positive example with the VMS-DeutschlandTicket+: For an additional 10 euros per month, the 49-euro ticket can be extended to include bicycle transport. It would be desirable for similar additional tickets to be offered throughout Germany for holders of the DeutschlandTicket. This could make the use of public transport in conjunction with your own bike more attractive, according to buycycle.