Two-Wheelers Steal the Show at Eurobike Trade Fair: A Closer Look at the Frankfurt Bicycle Fair

Two-wheelers made easy: on the test track at the Eurobike trade fair in Frankfurt. Image: Michael Hinz

Exhibitors show two-wheelers at the bicycle fair in Frankfurt, Hessen is to be supplied with wind power from the North Sea and the NATO exercise and thunderstorms led to disruptions at Frankfurt Airport. The FAZ Hauptwache takes a look at the topics of the day.

Good evening,
it’s been a generation now when leading Green politicians in Frankfurt wished the International Motor Show to go to hell and be replaced by a bicycle fair. Laughter from the educated classes, what nonsense. Well: The IAA has migrated to Munich with the active help of a failed mayor, from the announcement from Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) that he wanted to bring the exhibition back from the Isar to the Main has not been heard for a long time (also to this: Laughter of the educated classes, but maybe something else will come). Frankfurt now has a bicycle fair for this, and even if it is of course no substitute for the IAA and, incidentally, both fairs could have existed side by side: Eurobike is interesting, after all there are 1,900 exhibitors, and the show is currently having the toughest litmus -Test of all Frankfurt trade fairs: It causes traffic jams, and only then is a trade fair known to be successful. Well, the traffic jam mainly exists because the Emser Bridge is closed. But we all started small. Colleague Patricia Andreae reports and commented, Alexander Jürgs presents a daredevil bicycle acrobat who is also an influencer and can be seen at the fair over the weekend.

Other Knives in Frankfurt deal with heating, sanitary facilities or lighting and building technology and show what progress the industry has long made in all environmentally friendly technologies without having to push climate adhesives to do so. But the vast majority of modernization steps depend on electricity, and the times when a lot of it was generated in Hesse, in Biblis (nuclear) and Großkrotzenburg (coal and gas), are largely over. Hesse has become an import country, which is why it is a bit of a bluff when Economics Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Die Grünen) proudly announces that half of Hesse’s electricity is produced from renewable energies – much less is produced than before, so it’s not such a big feat. But let’s get to the point: In order for the wind power from the North Sea to reach central Germany, new power lines are needed. Inga Janovic has listened to the latest plans for it.

Under power are the armed forces since Russia invaded Ukraine. The fact that a huge maneuver by NATO in German airspace leads to restrictions in civil air traffic has practically not led to any discussions in the Federal Republic, given the situation, and there is great acceptance. And so also the message that it is because of this – and because of a thunderstorm – in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday at Frankfurt Airport 63 starts after 11 p.m, i.e. in a period in which peace is supposed to prevail, hardly caused a stir. A small price for more

How does Eurobike contribute to the ongoing conversation about sustainable mobility?

Tly taking place at the Eurobike trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany.

The focus of the fair is on two-wheelers, showcasing the latest advancements in bicycles, e-bikes, and other forms of sustainable transportation. One notable highlight is the shift towards using wind power from the North Sea to supply Hessen with renewable energy. This move aligns with the growing demand for environmentally friendly modes of transport.

However, the fair faced some disruptions due to the ongoing NATO exercise and thunderstorms that affected Frankfurt Airport. Despite these challenges, the FAZ Hauptwache takes a closer look at the topics dominating the event.

Interestingly, this bicycle fair is a result of the efforts made by green politicians in Frankfurt who opposed the International Motor Show and advocated for a shift towards promoting bicycles. While the IAA, now relocated to Munich, may overshadow the bicycle fair in terms of size and scale, Eurobike is still significant with its 1,900 exhibitors.

Although it cannot replace the IAA, both fairs could have coexisted, offering a diverse range of options for attendees. Overall, Eurobike provides a platform for the cycling industry to showcase its innovation and contribute to the ongoing conversation about sustainable mobility.