Train Travel with a Bike in Germany: A Mini Adventure
Catching the train from Lübeck to Hamburg, then the ICE from Hamburg to Offenburg, followed by a regional train to Sankt Georgen—it’s a journey, and with a bike, it’s an adventure in itself.
First things first: reserve your bike space and buy a bike ticket (well in advance). Yes, they’re two separate things. A reservation is not a ticket. You need both. Also, do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and reserve a seat for yourself. I don’t know why people don't do this—it’s genuinely unsettling watching people wander the aisles, scanning for a free spot and asking if a seat is taken. Just book a seat. It’s one less stress and saves everyone’s nerves.
Bike etiquette matters. Don’t take someone else’s reserved bike space. It’s rude, and frankly, not cool, and Kama will get you back. Hanging your bike on the hook in the designated carriage can be awkward, but people will help. Cyclists tend to be a supportive of each other—trust that someone will lend a hand and don't be afraid to ask.
Finding the right carriage is part of the game. The bike carriage is usually at one end of the train—first or last. A platform guard (if lucky) will point you to the correct section to wait, but expect non-bike passengers to follow you and the guard if he/she leads you there (especially those without reservations) to push ahead of you. They won’t give way. It’s a mystery why some do this, but they do. Most wont get on the actual bike carriage but they will take advantage of the guard making way for you and other bike carriers on a busy platform to get down the platform, I guess I might...might do the same, but I doubt it, maybe I'd follow behind the bikes but not in front.
Suitcase people are a whole other story. They don’t care about your bike. It’s every man and woman for themselves. With their tiny carry-ons, they’ll block the lifts instead of taking the stairs—especially frustrating when there’s a last-minute platform change five minutes before departure. And what the hell are in some of those suitcases people have, some suitcases are massive! Like small apartments on wheels, really is it necessary!
And yes, it’s Deutsche Bahn—expect delays. If your connection time is tight, assume you won’t make it (but don't give up hope totally). A sudden platform change plus lift-hogging passengers without bikes, prams, wheelchairs, or disabilities will slow you down. If needed, point to the sign next to the lift that says who and what has priority and politely assert yourself. It’s not rude—it’s survival.
Undercover, secret wannabe conductors. Catching the train is a good chance to play Bullshit bingo and one thing that can go on your bingo list (apart from a delay or platform change) is that someone will ask you, if you have or if you need a bike ticket... the answer is mostly always yes and it costs 7.00 euro. On almost every train journey I have taken with a bike someone has asked me one or both of these questions. Seriously, do I look like an information board or a ticket dodger. The bike ticket rules are a little tricky to understand because it can depend on the area and time you are travelling, but most of the time you need a bike ticket so the simple answer is yes, but if you are clued up you can overload them with a ton of unnecessary information, like Saxony-Anhalt & Thuringia don't require you to have a ticket, but blah blah blah.... and make them wish they hadn't asked.
YOU'VE GOT THIS, If we can do it YOU CAN DO IT Just bring plenty of food and drinks so you don't have to hash your way to the train restaurant 10 carriages away.
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