Rising scrap bikes in Rostock: E-bike boom as a cause?

Rising scrap bikes in Rostock: E-bike boom as a cause?

In recent years, the topic of junk bikes has become a topic of conversation in German cities. In Rostock in particular, the number of parked bicycles that are no longer roadworthy has increased noticeably. In 2022 there were still 329 reports, but the trend seems to be changing massively. According to a report by Wismar.fm, there were only 96 reports of scrap bikes in 2023, while 280 scrap bikes were already reported in the first half of 2025. The Rostock city administration suspects that this increase is related to the increasing popularity of e-bikes.

The situation is similar in other cities in the region. In Greifswald, almost 120 scrap bikes were removed last year, a significant increase compared to previous years. 68 scrap bikes were removed from the station forecourt alone, which makes the situation there even more worrying. The reason for this development could lie not only in the growing number of e-bikes, but also in the general change in people's mobility behavior.

Scrap bikes as a city problem

The problem of scrap bikes is not only noticed by the affected communities. These old bicycles can create obstacles or potential hazards and add to the clutter in the cityscape. Elimination also ties up human resources and incurs costs that cities would like to use differently. In Wismar, for example, a notice is attached to the bicycles before they are disposed of, and over 50 percent of the owners then usually remove them within four weeks.

A look at the bicycle industry reveals that significant changes are underway here too. According to a report by the Mobility Forum, the economic situation in the industry is tense. In 2024, around 3.85 million bicycles were sold, of which 2.05 million were e-bikes. This corresponds to a decrease of 2.53 percent compared to the previous year, when sales figures were 3.95 million. Electric bicycles now make up 53 percent of the total, which underlines their central role in mobility.

Bicycles and e-bikes are on the rise

The popularity of e-bikes is also reflected in the sales figures: over two million e-bikes were sold in 2023, accounting for almost half of total sales. Additionally, cargo bike sales have increased, and average bike prices have more than doubled in the last five years. This is happening against the background that bicycles are now becoming increasingly important as an environmentally friendly alternative to cars. Ultimately, the bicycle industry plays a central role in the mobility transition and contributes to achieving climate goals.

The most popular brands of bicycles and e-bikes are Cube, KTM-Bikes and Kalkhoff. This is also reflected in the increasing proportion of e-bikes among cyclists: 43 percent chose an e-bike or Pedelec in 2023, a record high.

Overall, it can be said that both the increase in scrap bikes and the market for bicycles and e-bikes show a clear trend: The change in mobility is in full swing, but the challenges, such as the disposal of scrap bikes, also require our attention.

For interesting insights into developments in the bicycle industry and traffic problems, it is worth taking a look at the reports from Wismar.fm, Mobility Forum and Statista.