Bonn used bike market “It is much fairer in Bonn than in other places"
Bonn · 380 sellers and even more visitors came to the first ADFC bike market of the season.
On Saturday morning, the German Cyclist’s Association “Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club” (ADFC) invited private individuals to the first used bicycle market of the year – and the sun came just out in time. Metal posts marked out the market area on the large square at the Hofgarten and visitors could register at a blue pavilion at the entrance.
In the morning 380 bikes were registered for sale, and according to ADFC manager Hans Dieter Fricke almost all of them found a buyer. “At the beginning of the year, there tend to be more bikes on offer and the demand is also greater”, he said. The sellers register with their personal ID card. Each one may have a maximum of two bikes for sale. “This is how we can be sure it is private individuals who are selling.”
The ADFC usually organises the bike market four times a year: in April, May, September and October. “Due to the renovation work of the university underground garage, we can only hold two markets this year – in April and May” Fricke explains. It would be too much effort to set up the market in another location which wouldn’t be easy to cordon off,” says the volunteer. He and his colleagues who have of course come to the market by bike, want to encourage more people to cycle. “Ultimately we are in favour of a car-free city.”
In front of the main university building the bikes are lined up in three rows. Visitors of all ages check the brakes and lights, go for test drives and ask for advice. “It’s a spur-of-the-moment visit. I needed a bike and my mother found out about the market online”, explained 11-year old Lisa Müller. She is now the proud owner of a white bike with green wheel rims. And the seller Alexander Merker said, “the bike market in Bonn always goes well. There are a lot of students here who need a bike and can only afford to spend 50 to 60 Euro”.
Christopher Ossowski was also pleased, “the bike market has a fair registration price compared to others. Furthermore, there are sales contracts and the police also come to check the frame numbers.” This ensures that there are no stolen bikes at the market. His friend Frederic Brötz added, “at bike markets I don’t want to see the same people with the same bad bikes on sale. But here in Bonn it is much fairer than in other places.” At the end of the day, the sellers, buyers and volunteers all seem happy. The ADFC has managed to put 380 Bonn residents on their bikes this weekend. The association is organising further bike markets on 22 April in Troisdorf, on 6 May in Meckenheim and on 20 May again in Bonn.
(Original text: Ines Bresler, Translation: Caroline Payne)