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Funding stop for Flotte Potsdam”: cargo bike rental on the brink of extinction!
Potsdam will stop funding the “Flotte Potsdam” cargo bike rental service from 2026. The association relies on voluntary support to save the situation.
Funding stop for Flotte Potsdam”: cargo bike rental on the brink of extinction!
The future of the “Flotte Potsdam” cargo bike project is hanging in the balance. How maz-online.de reports, the Potsdam city administration has decided not to provide any more financial resources for the popular project from 2026. Since October 2022, the team has received 25,000 euros annually to enable free rental of cargo bikes and heavy-duty trailers. The “Flotte Potsdam” currently manages eleven stations in the city, where a total of 15 cargo bikes are available for rental.
The project, inspired by the Fleet Berlin, was always aimed at promoting environmentally friendly and cost-effective mobility. The motto “Put pressure on the bike – reduce the burden on the environment” appeals to many Potsdam residents who want to do everyday errands without a car. The cargo bikes are currently housed in community centers, cultural centers and private locations, which shows how firmly the project is rooted in everyday urban life.
The city administration informed the project team about the funding stop in an email that surprised many members of the association. After all, the team had been negotiating a possible continuation of funding since February 2025 and had even received positive feedback from the administration in July. But funds had to be saved in the budget for 2026, so the last funding will expire at the end of October 2025. A full-time employee is therefore terminated at the end of the month after only a short notice period.
Hopes for political support
The association plans to maintain operations until the end of 2025 through volunteer work and donations. In recent years, a network of cargo bike fans, media educators and activists has been formed, which goes back, among other things, to the Mediatrike project, which began in Potsdam in 2017. It is hoped that the city council will take another look at the project and, if necessary, support it in order to continue to make a contribution to climate-friendly mobility - a topic that was also high on the agenda in the local election campaign.
It remains to be seen at which locations the cargo bikes are currently available and what the future might look like. The change in policy could be crucial, not only for the Potsdam fleet, but also for people's awareness of sustainable mobility in the city. The big question remains: Will the city of Potsdam put its words into action and support the fleet?