Promotion of cargo bikes

Funding is available for the purchase and leasing of single and double-track, registration and insurance-free new cargo bicycles with and without electrically motorized pedal assistance (cargo pedelecs) up to 25 km/h and bicycle trailers with and without electrically motorized assistance. The payload (permissible total weight - unladen weight of the vehicle) for cargo bicycles/pedelecs must be at least 120 kg, for bicycle trailers the load capacity/load must be at least 20 kg.

The cargo bike/pedelec must either

• have an extended wheelbase including transport option or
• have a permanently installed front and rear luggage rack as well as corresponding transport options such as boxes, baskets or bags.

Eligible accessories

• for cargo bikes/cargo pedelecs in factory condition are
  • a transport box for goods or people (with bench seat)
  • a rain cover to protect the transport surface from precipitation and the weather and
  • an external, non-integrated lock.
• For the bicycle trailer in factory condition
  • a seat shell for small children,
  • a rain cover,
  • a trailer coupling/drawbar for exclusive connection to the bicycle and
  • an external, non-integrated lock.

Explicitly stated shipping costs are not covered by the funding and are excluded from it.

In addition, as an "inclusive municipality", the city of Erlangen promotes therapy bikes for people with mental or physical disabilities, which serve the environmentally friendly mobility of these people. For example, therapy bikes for the transportation of people with mental or physical disabilities or wheelchair bikes can be funded.

The therapy bike should either

• be used to transport the applicant, or
• enable the active mobility of the applicant.

One cargo bike or cargo pedelec or bicycle trailer or bicycle cargo trailer or motorized cargo trailer or therapy bikeper private person/household, association, initiative, user community, company and freelancer is eligible for fundingwithin three years.

Funding is provided in accordance with the funding guidelines adopted by the city council. In addition to private individuals in Erlangen, this is aimed at associations and initiatives, tradespeople and freelancers based and active in Erlangen, as well as people with mental or physical disabilities.

As of this year, people with the ErlangenPass, families with more than 3 children and people who use green electricity receive a higher level of support.

The respective funding amounts can be found in the table in the next tab.

The available budget funds are allocated according to the chronological order of applications received on a daily basis (first-come, first-served principle).

Answers to frequently asked questions:

We are a shared flat and would like to buy a cargo bike. Can we apply for a grant from the City of Erlangen?

- Yes, as long as at least 3 people are declared as a user community.

Do all children have to be registered in one household to receive the family bonus?

- Yes, all 3 children and more must be registered in the same household. Children split between several households due to parents living separately do not qualify to apply for the family bonus.

¹ ) At least 3 children under the age of 12 in the household

² ) Green electricity produced from 100% renewable energy. See the list of the best green electricity providers from Utopia.de: https://utopia.de/bestenlisten/die-besten-oekostrom-anbieter/

³ ) Persons with a valid ErlangenPass are eligible to apply.

⁴ ) This includes bicycle trailers that can transport heavy loads of 150 kg or more.

⁵ ) This includes motorized electric bicycle trailers with a load capacity of 150 kg or more.

⁶ ) People with mental or physical disabilities who have received a rejection notice from the cost center for the purchase of a therapy bike, wheelchair bike or other special bike for the transport of people with mental or physical disabilities are eligible to apply.

The city of Erlangen has once again launched a funding program in 2024. The available funds are currently exhausted due to the large number of applications received and the budget freeze.
For this reason, no new applications for cargo bike funding will be accepted. Should the situation change, you will be informed here.

The application can be submitted either directly using the web form or in writing using the printed form to the

City of Erlangen
Department for Planning and Building
Cycling Officer
Werner-von-Siemens-Straße 61
91051 Erlangen

must be submitted. In addition to the application form and the documents required there, the following proof of eligibility must be provided:

• for private individuals: Proof of residence in Erlangen by means of a copy of the identity card or passport
• ErlangenPass: Holders of the ErlangenPass must provide a copy of their ErlangenPass to prove their eligibility for funding
• for associations and initiatives: association statutes, articles of association or agreements made showing the registered office, purpose and sphere of activity
• for user communities of at least three persons: Confirmation of the community of use in the application form
• For tradespeople/freelancers: current excerpt from the commercial register or trade license, de minimis declaration, SME declaration
• For people with mental or physical disabilities: Proof of disability in the form of a copy of the disability certificate, notice of rejection from the funding body

The following proof must be provided in order to receive a bonus subsidy:

• Eco-bonus green electricity: The applicant must provide a copy of the supply contract (for a period of at least 3 years) to prove that they purchase green electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. For orientation, the best list of green electricity providers from Utopia.de is recommended: https://utopia.de/bestenlisten/die-besten-oekostrom-anbieter/.
• Family bonus: Proof of at least three children under the age of 12 in the household, by means of an extended registration certificate with details of children in the household, a copy of the child's identity card or passport.

To the web form

Until the funding amount of € 150,000 is exhausted and until 31.12.2024 at the latest.

No, it must remain with the applicant for at least 3 years.

Only one cargo bike/cargo pedelec/bicycle trailer/bicycle cargo trailer/therapy bike can be funded per household.

No, the purchase contract may only be concluded after the application has been approved. This also includes down payments.