Freie Lasten’s inclusive & self-managed bikes

Freie Lasten

Freie Lasten is an initiative of bicycle enthusiasts in Marburg that offers a self-managed, free cargo bike rental service and pursues climate-friendly, solidarity-based and inclusive mobility for all.

Service Provided

Different types of bikes to accommodate a wide range of users are available to rent for a maximum of 3 consecutive days including weekends. Sporty two-wheelers, three-wheelers, bikes for transporting children, inclusive bikes like tandem with low comfortable seats with seat belts, and large trailers are the types of bikes offered. The official site portrays each bike with a photo, a brief technical description, its suitable attachable trailers, date availabilities, and the address of one of the many pick-up stations scattered around the city. To be able to rent, one must first log in or register on the official site.

Intended Users

Freie Lasten´s wide variety of bicycles can accommodate many types of people and their abilities, their needs, and trip types: anyone who can use a bike or is in the company of someone who does, including wheelchair users, people with poor balance/sight, small children/baby carriage, etc. can make use of the bikes.

Benefits

Cargo bikes are climate-friendly transport alternatives and rolling ambassadors for more humane mobility. The idea is to replace as many car journeys as possible with cargo bike journeys and give as many people as possible access to environmentally friendly means of transport.

Service Details

The service started in 2017 and ever since, interested users can check the availability and technical description of each bike on the website. Using the calendar people can book a preferred bike for a up to three days and are not asked to pay a fee.

How the booking works: create an account or log in, select the desired item, select the loan and return date in the booking calendar, confirm the booking.

Financial Details

Freie Lasten is financed by donations and voluntary work and, as part of the commons movement without profit interests, is committed to a change in transport through manual labour. Borrowing the bikes does not cost any money because the cargo bikes should be accessible to everyone. Nevertheless, the service does not work without financial resources as there are costs for repairs, spare parts, insurance and much more. To ensure that this initiative can exist in the long term, donations and active participation are always welcome.

2022 Press Release

"The free cargo bikes are a practical contribution to more climate-friendly mobility in our district. They are deliberately free of charge and therefore accessible to everyone"

Marburg Biedenkopf Press Portal

About the Service Providers

In 2017, a group of cycling enthusiasts launched the Freie Lasten Marburg initiative. Inspired by projects from other cities in Germany and Europe, the association Freie Räder e.V. was founded, which now serves as the supporting organisation for Freie Lasten. The project is a self-organised and non-commercial cargo bike rental service which is climate-friendly, for everyone, free of charge, and organised in solidarity.