Going into the mountains without a car – the thought alone causes some people to break into a sweat. Images of a strenuous journey and heavy luggage appear before the inner eye. And what if the bike comes along? There are good and comfortable ways to take your bike with you in the Alps, whether in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
By train
Taking the bike with you on the train can be a challenge. It is relatively easy on many regional trains with their low boarding. You don’t need to make a reservation, buy a bike card and push your bike on the train to the designated places. For long-distance transport, a parking space must be reserved in advance online or at the ticket counter in all three countries and a separate ticket for taking bicycles with you must be booked. In the Deutsche Bahn trains Depending on the size and equipment, there is space for around eight bikes in the ICE 4, three in the ICE-Ts and eight to 16 in the Intercity and Eurocity trains. ICEs one to three cannot transport bicycles. On the trains of the ÖBB about six to 20 bikes fit and those of SBB about four to 37. E-bikes are allowed in all three countries, but in Austria and Germany the battery may not be removed during the train journey. There are also different guidelines for other special bikes depending on the country. In the DB, the tire width may only vary between 40 to 60 millimeters, while in the ÖBB the wheel may not weigh more than 30 kilograms. In the SBB you have to use regional trains with bikes over two meters in length.
With the mountain bus
In Germany, the DAV– and Flix mountain buses five wheels can be loaded onto the trailer. However, you have to reserve in advance what is possible online. However, special bikes (e-bikes, tandems, cargo bikes) are not permitted. In Austria the offer is more flexible. As a rule, you do not have to make a reservation with the Postbus. And electric bicycles can be carried to a limited extent, but not other special bicycles. Switzerland has the most extensive service with around 200 PostBus lines, each with five to 20 bikes reservation required Take with you into the mountains, but only ever include a maximum of two e-bikes.
Door-to-door service
The DB and ÖBB also offer a luggage service via external forwarding agents that collects the bike conveniently from home and delivers it to an address of your choice. At of the Deutsche Bahn the service costs 49.90 euros, the corresponding limit is two meters and 31.5 kilograms. However, e-bikes and tandems are excluded from this service. Removing the battery can also be a loophole in e-bikes. The ÖBB offer e-bikes in Austria for 49 euros. There, travelers have to transport the battery themselves, as it is dangerous goods according to European guidelines. If it is permanently installed, you can still take the bike with you. In Switzerland Sending bicycles from station to station is easy for everyone – except cargo bikes – for 20 to 30 francs.
Another option – depending on the weight – is to dismantle the bike. Then you can take it with you in a bicycle bag as a piece of luggage. But what is most important is that a vacation with your own bike in the mountains should be planned well in advance and comprehensively.