Quickly borrow a bike via mobile phone, get on here, park there: The Munich Transport Company (MVG) rental bike system is to be rolled out in the north of the district.
The northern communities are planning a network system with fixed stations.
The district should get in the saddle, also financially.
First of all, however, the municipal councils are now in demand.
Weyarn / Otterfing -
In the urban area of Munich they are on every corner, since autumn 2019 also at fixed stations in the district of Munich: The MVG rental bikes feel their way out into the metropolitan region.
“A first attempt to bring the system into the district unfortunately came to nothing,” says Weyarn's Mayor Leonhard Wöhr.
At a meeting of the northern mayors, it was agreed to make a new attempt together.
“A rental bike system like this only makes sense if many communities participate and a broad network of rental and return stations can be built up,” says Wöhr
.
The district of Munich serves as a model.
The state and federal government subsidized the technical structure of the stations with 80 percent; the municipalities and the district each bear ten percent.
If the company is not self-sufficient, "which is to be expected in the introductory period" (Wöhr), the district and the municipalities share the operating cost deficit.
“The idea is to try this concept with us as well,” says Wöhr.
The district is supposed to act as the project sponsor and contribute financially
The timetable stipulates that the local councils of the northern parishes first advise and decide whether or not to participate.
Otterfing, Holzkirchen, Valley and Warngau are in demand.
The Waakirchner committee declined on Tuesday (April 13th).
The Weyarner municipal council, however, has already signaled approval, if enough neighbors participate.
“And we'll see that now,” says Wöhr.
He has promised his colleagues to collect the “mandates” and to submit a representative application to the district to adopt the “Munich model”.
The district would act as the project sponsor, co-financier and coordinator for the development of the MVG rental bike system.
After all, according to Weyarn's town hall chief, the district is also aiming at joining the MVV.
"The communities in the south of the district are very skeptical," Wöhr knows, "but you have to try things out, otherwise innovations have no chance." .
The MVG rental bike network should show its strengths in the tourist sector, but above all in the everyday life of local residents.
"Weyarners could commute by bike to Mitterdarching station and back," says Wöhr.
Rental bikes could be of particular interest to commuters
Otterfing's town hall chief Michael Falkenhahn (SPD) also sees great potential here, as he explained on Tuesday (April 13) at the Otterfinger construction committee meeting, where the topic was discussed in advance.
"The bikes are not really suitable for longer tours," says Falkenhahn, "but our commuters to the Holzkirchen or Kreuzstrasse train stations may be happy to use it."
Then it's the district's turn: "It would be nice if the district supports the north in shifting more traffic onto bikes."
Building committee member Andreas Eichhorn (SPD) expressed doubts as to whether rental bike systems would find an audience in the countryside.
“Everyone has their own bike here.” In addition, the bike always has to be returned to a station.
"But that could also be in Munich, Warngau or Weyarn," said Falkenhahn.
Hildegard Huil (Greens) can well imagine "that some Munich residents cycle out to us on the MVG bike".
Thomas Hogger (Greens) pointed out that the offer fits in well with the time.
"It's cool to use a bike like that."
