Munich Bike Rental Systems

There are several good options for renting bikes in Munich. We explored three during this visit. All have some advantages and disadvantages, depending on the duration of a visit in Munich or the circumstances around your bike ride. 

Bernhard releasing a bike on the Call a Bike system.

1. Call a Bike: The government system, run by the Deutsche Bahn (DB) railway operator would be the best choice for a long stay. An account is set up by cell phone, with a credit card for security and billing. Our friend Bernhard already had an account that we used for our ride, so we’re still unclear on the exact rates and process of setting up an account. More information on that when we have it. Once the account is set up, the user only has to find an available bike on the street, and call the number on the decal on the bike to activate that bike to the specific account. The light on the bike’s controller box then goes from green (available) to red (rented), the lock is freed, and off you go. The bike is yours for as long as you wish. If you want to make a short stop, maybe to pick up bread on the way home, you can just keep the rental active. Park and lock the bike, its control box light will stay red, and it will be there for you when you exit the bakery. If you want to go to a movie and then maybe walk home, you just abandon the bike at any intersection in Munich, call the DB system on your cell phone, your rental charges stop, and the bike’s light goes back to green.

A red DB Call a Bike chained to a pole at an intersection near the Hauptbahnhof in Munich.

Advantages:

-This is a 24-hour system and the bikes are just about everywhere in the city center, parks, and residential areas we rode through. You don’t have to go to a central rental station or one of the scattered kiosks other systems use. But not finding one close by on a rainy evening would not be good. No guarantees.
-The automated phone system seems to be continuously monitored with actual people available if you need help. We didn’t test their English capabilities, but I would be surprised in modern Germany if there wasn’t at least some basic foreign language ability.
-The bikes were in good condition, with 5 speeds and good brakes. They are step-through unisex bikes, so men in kilts will be just fine.
-If something goes wrong with the bike you can just call it in, leave it, and find another. 

Disadvantages:

-Without specified kiosk or office locations, finding a bike when you need one can be a challenge.
-I also found the bulk of the controller box at the rear of the pedals to require me to splay my heels when riding. A bit awkward, but I adjusted.
-The seat on my bike was also tipped forward too far for comfort, but without terminating that rental and finding another bike, I just had to make do.
-There is just one type of bike available, all with a bungee-cord equipped rack behind the seat. No helmets or baskets are available.
-This system also requires a cell phone that works in Germany, which every casual tourist may not have. I imagine some carriers will find a way to stack phone charges on top of the bike rental fees.
-So this system works best for long-term visits. It would not be our choice for even a small tour group, and the odds of finding 20 bikes available at a single intersection are low. 

Rental Rates: Coming soon, when we get them. 

Radius' rental shop inside the Hauptbahnhof in Munich.

2. Radius: This private company has a single station, but it is well located near the northwest corner of the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) in the city center. The process is familiar to anyone who has ever rented a car. Step up, make your selection between city bike or mountain bike, men’s or women’s, use a credit card for a deposit, set the seat height, and go. Locks, baskets, and helmets are available.

Advantages:

-The personal touch in fluent English at the station is nice, especially for casual tourists without cell phones or functional German. Emily’s seat was adjusted to her height.
-The bikes were fairly new and in good condition.
-This is a good choice for casual tourists or longer visitor without cell phones.
-The location provides for an easy transition from train to bike and back again. 

Disadvantages:

-Unless delivery arrangements are made and paid for, these bikes can only be rented at the main train station and must be returned there.
-Like those available from most private operators in the city, the bikes have “This is a tourist – Rent a bike like this at …” signs on them. 

Rental fees:

The standard rates are 15 Euros for a combined morning and afternoon, and 17 Euros for 24 hours. A small tour group would be given 2 Euros per bike off these rates, but no delivery is possible. A 3 ½ hour guided tour of Munich would be 150 Euros for a group. 

Our MW-Touristik bikes, free of 'tourist' labels.

3. MW-Touristik: This is also a private company, that operates out of a tourist information office and internet café very near the Isartor gate in the old city wall. That makes it a bit closer to the Marienplatz/Viktualienmarkt/Hofbrauhaus tourist attractions. Their rental process is similar to Radius’ with equivalent options for locks, baskets, and helmets. 

Advantages:

-The bikes are new, and free of advertising signs or banners.
-The rates are cheaper, especially for the 24 hour rental.
-The operator will deliver bikes for a group to a central location at no charge.
-There is also a personal touch, in fluent English. (The operator is an American resident of Munich.) 

Disadvantages:

-Like Radius, the bikes must normally be picked up and dropped off at just the one location. The office was a little difficult to find, instead of being prominent in a major train station. 

Rental Fees:

MW’s normal rates are 10 Euros for half a day, 15 Euros for a 24 hour day, and just 10 for a second day. They will discount those to our tour, dropping to 12 Euros for a full 24 hour day. This gives our clients the bikes long enough to enjoy Munich on their own before or after our organized tours. A 3 hour group tour from MW would be 55 Euros. That is low enough that we could pay for two guides and split our group. That makes getting everyone across intersections much easier. (Side note: This explains why at times we saw groups of people zooming past us only to stop abruptly and form a big clot completely blocking the bike ways, with everyone peering over their shoulders. Presumably waiting for the second half of their group to clear an intersection on the next green light.)

This should be the choice for our group tours. We can get the bikes delivered to a location near the hotel, keep them for an entire day, and get a history tour, all for less than 20 Euros per client. 

Locations and contact information:

Deutsche Bahn (DB):

No stations, only telephone access by calling the number found on the bike.

Radius:

At Gleis (Platform) 3 at the northwest corner of the central train station (Hauptbahnhof).
Arnulfstrasse 3, 80335 Munchen
Phone: (0)89-59 61 13
Email: bikes@radiustours.com

MW-Touristik:

Thomas-Wimmer-Ring 1, 80539 Munchen - near the Isartor, east of Marienplatz.
Phone: (0)89-24 23 17 67.
Email: tours@munichwalktours.de
Web: www.munichwalktours.de