Counter bike

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A counter bike in public traffic in Berlin (2009)

A counter bike , also known in Germany under the protected names Bierbike and Partybike , is a four-wheeled group bike that is driven by pedals . In addition, it is equipped with a counter , a beer dispenser and often a music system. The purpose of the vehicle is to enable a combination of movement and celebration. The counter bike ( Dutch Bierfiets ) was invented in 2000 by the Dutch brothers Zwier and Henk van Laar in the village of Kootwijkerbroek (part of Barneveld ) under the name Fietscafé .

functionality

The counter bike works on the basic principle of the bike . The passengers sit across from each other at a table and step on the pedals that propel the vehicle. A driver steers and brakes.

distribution

In Germany, counter bicycles are mainly rented in large cities by commercial providers for celebrations, sociable excursions and city tours. Similar vehicles are also common in Great Britain , the Netherlands , the United States and Ireland . There are currently providers in 34 cities in Germany, 27 counter bicycles are in operation in the Netherlands and 20 in the USA (as of October 2012).

criticism

Counter bicycles are criticized on the one hand because of the often drunk passengers, on the other hand because the comparatively large, up to a tonne and slow vehicles represent a not inconsiderable traffic obstruction, especially in large cities .

The driving of counter bicycles in the middle of the cities signals "Drinking and driving, that goes together", argues the German police union . Drunk people have no place in traffic.

The ADAC welcomes a ban on counter bicycles in public road traffic because, in its opinion , alcohol consumption and participation in road traffic do not go together.

Legal situation

Düsseldorf was the first city in Germany to prohibit a beer bike rental company from using public roads without a special permit. The commercial operator sued against this through several instances. On August 28, 2012, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that counter bicycles in Germany are not allowed to drive on public roads, as they do not meet common road use , but rather represent a special use requiring a permit , in that "the predominant purpose [...] is the implementation of [...] events on the street "and not taking part in traffic ," so the event character outweighs the change of location ". An operator who wanted to sue the city of Münster for granting a special usage permit also failed before the Münster Administrative Court.

In Amsterdam, beer bikes are no longer allowed to drive through the center since November 1, 2017. The Amsterdam District Court agrees with the city council that "the combination of traffic delays, anti-social behavior and the busy city center justifies a ban" (judgment). In 2016, 6,000 residents of the center had previously signed a petition calling for the ban.

Similar vehicles

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Claudia Fromme . Ballermann on wheels . In Süddeutsche Zeitung on September 6, 2012. Retrieved on October 14, 2012
  2. ↑ a b German cities want to ban beer bikes , accessed on October 10, 2012
  3. ↑ Beer bikes: in 34 cities in Germany, 20 in the USA and 27 in the Netherlands . Retrieved October 14, 2012
  4. ↑ By Sabine Beikler and Sigrid Kneist . “Beer bike and co: pedaling and drinking”. In Der Tagesspiegel of August 18, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012
  5. ↑ "If the horse doesn't want to, the rider can't do anything. . "Quotation from Süddeutsche Zeitung , accessed on October 14, 2012
  6. ↑ Off for beer bikes , accessed on October 10, 2012
  7. ↑ Decision of the BVerwG 3 B 8.12. (No longer available online.) Federal Administrative Court, August 28, 2012, formerly in the original ; Retrieved October 12, 2012 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.bverwg.de  
  8. ↑ judges ban beer bikes in Münster , in Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung on June 7, 2013, accessed on February 10, 2016
  9. ↑ Amsterdam prohibits “beer bikes” orf.at, November 1, 2017, accessed November 1, 2017.