Frequently Asked Questions

Would you like to find out more? Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and answers about WienMobil Rad and nextbike.

Classics

How does WienMobil Rad work?

Register easily and for free via app or website. Bikes can be rented via the nextbike app or the hotline.

How to avert a 20 € fine for improper return?

If you have returned a bike improperly, you can avert the usual fee of 20 € by renting the bike again and returning it properly. The successive rentals of the same bike are merged.

This means that the final rental period is calculated from the start time of the first rental and the return time of the second rental. The break between the two rentals is then also added to the rental time. The 20€ fine will be waved.

How can I contact the customer service?

You can reach the WienMobil Rad customer service at +49 (0) 30 69205046, support@wienmobilrad.at or via App Support function.

Why do I have to pay a 20 € service fee (even though I returned the bike where I rented it)?

A service fee of at least 20 € will be charged if a bike is returned outside a flex zone or an official station.

It does not matter if the bike has already been rented outside the flex zone or off a station. The service fee of the previous user does not cover the misconduct of the next user.

I have discovered an incorrect debit in my customer account, what can I do?

Please contact our customer service by app, hotline or email to correct any miscalculations. Please provide us with all necessary information about the rental / tariff / customer account in order to be able to understand the case. Our customer service can be contacted via app under support, via the hotline stated in the footer of the system’s website or via support@wienmobilrad.at.

Where can I return my WienMobil Rad?

Depending on the system, the bikes can be returned at official stations or within a flex zone on any public road. On the location map in your nextbike app you can easily see where the next station is or where the flex zone ends.

You can find out whether the system has a flex zone or only stations on the respective website of the system. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

Bikes may only be returned in the system in which they were rented. Cross-city returns are only possible in VRNnextbike, metropolradruhr and RVK e-Bike and is communicated on the respective website of the scheme.

E-bikes have to be pushed into a charging stand. If non is free, place the bike next to it.

KVB-Rad Cologne: In Cologne, you can check the small lamp at the rear of the bike before returning it. If it flashes green before the return, the bike can be returned in this area. If it flashes red, the bike is outside the flex zone and away from stations. Returning the bike here is not allowed.

How do I return my WienMobil Rad bike?

The return process differs depending on the bike type and system type.

Place the bike at an official station or – if available – within the flex zone of the respective system and lock it.

E-bikes have to be pushed into a charging stand. If non is free, place the bike next to it.

Framelock:
If the bike has a frame lock, close the lock. The bike is automatically returned.

BikeComputer:
If the bike has a BikeComputer and a fork lock, close the lock and confirm the return on the BikeComputer by pressing ‘OK’.

Station with Smartdocks:
If you return your bike to a station with Smartdocks, push it into the dock. A beep confirms the return. If the station is full, place the bike next to it, lock it and return the it via app, hotline* or terminal.

Combination lock:
If the bike has a combination lock, return it via the app by specifying the location.

In all cases, use an app to check whether the return was successful and inform customer service immediately if this is not the case.

The specific systems’ websites for each city explain how the rental works in this city. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

* Bikes with framelocks cannot be returned via hotline.

How do I activate my customer account?

To activate your customer account, you need to add a payment method to your customer account. We will deposit a credit of 1 € to verify your payment method. This is not a fee but will be available on your account as rental credit. All available payment methods are listed in the app.

After successful debiting your customer account will be activated immediately. Only if you make a bank transfer, your account will be activated after two to four days, depending on the bank.

Please note that your PayPal account must be verified. More information can be found on PayPal.

In which cities is nextbike available?

Nextbike is available in over 300 cities worldwide, including Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Glasgow and Riga. Use the location search.

The frame lock does not open. What shall I do?

First check whether a spoke is blocking the lock by turning the rear wheel slightly. Then open the active rental in your app and click on ‘open lock’. Unlocking will be initiated again.

If the frame lock does not open even after another attempt to open it via the app, our system automatically detects this after three minutes and cancels the rental. No costs will apply. Please check the cancellation in your app and contact our customer service if it is still active after three minutes. Don’t worry about possible charges if our customer service can’t deal with your case right away. No charges apply as long as you tried to contact them right away.

Registration

How can I register?

You can sign up via the website, app or at the terminal. Depending on the city, not all registration channels may be available. Information on registration can be found on the respective website of the system. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

Why do I have to debit 1 € although the registration is for free?

To verify your payment method and to activate your account, your bank account will be debited with 1 €. However, this is not a registration fee, but can be used as your starting credit.

How do I activate my customer account?

To activate your customer account, you need to add a payment method to your customer account. We will deposit a credit of 1 € to verify your payment method. This is not a fee but will be available on your account as rental credit. All available payment methods are listed in the app.

After successful debiting your customer account will be activated immediately. Only if you make a bank transfer, your account will be activated after two to four days, depending on the bank.

Please note that your PayPal account must be verified. More information can be found on PayPal.

Old old must I be to use WienMobil Rad?

You have to be 18 years of age.

Customer account

Why doesn’t my account remember my PayPal details?

Your PayPal account is probably not verified. For more information please visit PayPal.

When will I receive my invoices?

Invoices are available for SEPA direct debit only. You can download your invoices after the end of the respective month in your customer account via the website under “Account status”.

How can I cancel my account and what happens to my remaining balance?

You can easily cancel your account in your customer account via login on our website. Log in and click on “Close account”. Remaining credit will be automatically refunded.

Alternatively you can send us your cancellation by e-mail to support@wienmobilrad.at or by post (address to be found in the website footer).

How can I contact the customer service?

You can reach the WienMobil Rad customer service at +49 (0) 30 69205046, support@wienmobilrad.at or via App Support function.

What happens if my customer account is in the red?

If your account goes into the red because open sums cannot be debited, your account will be temporarily deactivated until the open sum has been paid. Please check if you have a valid means of payment.

I have discovered an incorrect debit in my customer account, what can I do?

Please contact our customer service by app, hotline or email to correct any miscalculations. Please provide us with all necessary information about the rental / tariff / customer account in order to be able to understand the case. Our customer service can be contacted via app under support, via the hotline stated in the footer of the system’s website or via support@wienmobilrad.at.

Do I have to notify changes to my Wiener Linien annual pass number?

The validity of the card number is checked annually and invalid card numbers are deleted.

Why was my account deactivated?

Probably open sums could not be debited from your bank account or there is no means of payment deposited. Please check this in your customer account and contact customer service if in doubt.

How can I change my phone number?

To change your phone number, please contact our customer service at support@wienmobilrad.at. Send the email from the email address you use for your account.

How to avert a 20 € fine for improper return?

If you have returned a bike improperly, you can avert the usual fee of 20 € by renting the bike again and returning it properly. The successive rentals of the same bike are merged.

This means that the final rental period is calculated from the start time of the first rental and the return time of the second rental. The break between the two rentals is then also added to the rental time. The 20€ fine will be waved.

How do I pay for WienMobil Rad, how is billing done and where can I retrieve the invoices for my trips?

If you have specified a credit card as the payment method, the fees for your trips will usually be debited 24 hours after your rental.

With the direct debit payment method, we debit the open fees monthly from your bank account.

You can view your rental history and direct debit invoices in your customer account at any time. Log in via the website. Please note that invoices are only available after the end of the month.

Why do I have to pay a 20 € service fee (even though I returned the bike where I rented it)?

A service fee of at least 20 € will be charged if a bike is returned outside a flex zone or an official station.

It does not matter if the bike has already been rented outside the flex zone or off a station. The service fee of the previous user does not cover the misconduct of the next user.

Can I use my existing nextbike account?

Yes, you can use your existing nextbike account to use WienMobil Rad. Simply scan the QR code on the bike and set off. The WienMobil Rad tariffs apply.

Rent, park and return

Where can I rent bikes with my nextbike account?

With a nextbike account you can use almost all nextbike affiliated bike sharing systems worldwide. However, for some systems a separate registration in the respective system is necessary. This applies to the MVG-Rad Munich, VAG_Rad Nuremberg, Mol Bubi Budapest / Hungary, Sitycleta / Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Bilbaobizi in Bilbao / Spain. In some systems, bikes can be rented without re-registration, but only via the local app. This applies to Veturilo Warsaw / Poland, among others.

What do I do if my bike has a defect?

Defects can easily be reported via the support function in our app. Please check the bike for obvious defects before starting your journey or before renting it and inform us of any damage so that the bikes can be locked and repaired as quickly as possible. If you went off with a bike and only then notice a defect, end your ride and call our service. Only then can we cancel the ride and register the bike for repair.

Unfortunately, we cannot refund any fees if you have continued using the bike despite obvious defects.

How do I recognize an official station?

All stations are marked on the map in the app or on the website with large markers (the small markers mark individual bikes). In some cities there are also station signs, terminals or bicycle stands at the marked places.

What happens if I return my bike away from stations or outside the flex zone?

If you return your bike without permission, a service fee of at least 20 € will be charged. More information about service charges can be found on the respective website of the system.

Can I park my bike during the rental?

Yes, you can.

If the bike has a combination lock, you can simply close it and reopen it with the lock code. If the bike has a BikeComputer and a fork lock, activate the park mode. To do so, briefly touch the BikeComputer to wake it up, then press the ‘P’ button, close the fork lock and confirm the park mode again with P’. To continue cycling, enter the lock code again into the BikeComputer and press ‘OK’.

If the bike has a frame lock, you activate the park mode in the app and then close the lock (attention: If you close the lock before the park mode has been activated, the bike will be returned immediately). To continue cycling, end the park mode in the app and the lock will open automatically. Never end the park mode from afar.

The rental stays active during the park mode and will be charged as usual.

How does WienMobil Rad work?

Register easily and for free via app or website. Bikes can be rented via the nextbike app or the hotline.

How to avert a 20 € fine for improper return?

If you have returned a bike improperly, you can avert the usual fee of 20 € by renting the bike again and returning it properly. The successive rentals of the same bike are merged.

This means that the final rental period is calculated from the start time of the first rental and the return time of the second rental. The break between the two rentals is then also added to the rental time. The 20€ fine will be waved.

Why do I have to pay a 20 € service fee (even though I returned the bike where I rented it)?

A service fee of at least 20 € will be charged if a bike is returned outside a flex zone or an official station.

It does not matter if the bike has already been rented outside the flex zone or off a station. The service fee of the previous user does not cover the misconduct of the next user.

The frame lock does not open. What shall I do?

First check whether a spoke is blocking the lock by turning the rear wheel slightly. Then open the active rental in your app and click on ‘open lock’. Unlocking will be initiated again.

If the frame lock does not open even after another attempt to open it via the app, our system automatically detects this after three minutes and cancels the rental. No costs will apply. Please check the cancellation in your app and contact our customer service if it is still active after three minutes. Don’t worry about possible charges if our customer service can’t deal with your case right away. No charges apply as long as you tried to contact them right away.

What should I do in the event of an accident?

In the event of an accident involving third parties or third-party property, you are obliged to inform the police and nextbike immediately.

Will there also be WienMobil bike stations in Lower Austria?

No, WienMobil bike stations will only be set up in Vienna.

What are virtual WienMobil bike stations?

Virtual stations are visible in the app. At these stations, WienMobil bikes can be locked with the frame lock that ends the rental. Virtual WienMobil bike stations are flexible and can be moved as required. For example, temporary stations can also be set up for events.

How do I return my bike correctly?

If the station does not have fixed bicycle racks, the bike will be locked to itself.

As a general rule, nobody should be hindered by the parked bike.

Please note the following:

The bike may not be parked or returned:
a) at traffic lights
b) parking ticket machines or parking meters
c) at road signs
d) on sidewalks, if this results in a passage width of less than 1.50 m
e) in front of, at and on escape routes and firefighter access zones
f) where this conceals the stationary advertising of a third party
g) by locking to fences of private or public houses and establishments
h) on public transport platforms and bus platforms
i) at public bicycle racks

In case of contravention we reserve the right to charge a service fee.

What do I do if a terminal is out of order?

If a terminal is out of order, you can still rent and return bikes at the respective station via the app or our hotline. Please inform our service by app, phone or email about the defect so that we can fix it quickly.

What is a flex zone and how do I recognize it?

A flex zone is a defined area, usually in the city centre, where the bikes can be flexibly returned on any public road. It is colour-coded on the map in the app and on the website. Bicolor flex zones contain of blue marked streets, on which the return is possible without a surcharge, and pink zones, in which the return is possible for a €1 surcharge. Whether a city has a flex zone can be read on the respective website of the system. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

Please always return your bike so that it is clearly visible to other users, does not obstruct anyone, and keeps paths and exits clear. Parking on private grounds, in green areas or in backyards is generally prohibited. Please lock the bike to itself and do not use public bicycle racks or the like. You can find more information about returning bicycles in our general terms and conditions.

Can I rent WienMobil Rad bikes without an app or without an internet-enabled mobile phone?

Yes, bikes can alternatively be rented via the hotline. If the local system has terminals or BikeComputers, these can also be used for rental and return.

Can I rent several bikes parallely with one customer account?

You can rent up to four bikes at a time using one customer account. Booked tariffs and special conditions usually only apply to the first bike.

Where can I return my WienMobil Rad?

Depending on the system, the bikes can be returned at official stations or within a flex zone on any public road. On the location map in your nextbike app you can easily see where the next station is or where the flex zone ends.

You can find out whether the system has a flex zone or only stations on the respective website of the system. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

Bikes may only be returned in the system in which they were rented. Cross-city returns are only possible in VRNnextbike, metropolradruhr and RVK e-Bike and is communicated on the respective website of the scheme.

E-bikes have to be pushed into a charging stand. If non is free, place the bike next to it.

KVB-Rad Cologne: In Cologne, you can check the small lamp at the rear of the bike before returning it. If it flashes green before the return, the bike can be returned in this area. If it flashes red, the bike is outside the flex zone and away from stations. Returning the bike here is not allowed.

How do I return my WienMobil Rad bike?

The return process differs depending on the bike type and system type.

Place the bike at an official station or – if available – within the flex zone of the respective system and lock it.

E-bikes have to be pushed into a charging stand. If non is free, place the bike next to it.

Framelock:
If the bike has a frame lock, close the lock. The bike is automatically returned.

BikeComputer:
If the bike has a BikeComputer and a fork lock, close the lock and confirm the return on the BikeComputer by pressing ‘OK’.

Station with Smartdocks:
If you return your bike to a station with Smartdocks, push it into the dock. A beep confirms the return. If the station is full, place the bike next to it, lock it and return the it via app, hotline* or terminal.

Combination lock:
If the bike has a combination lock, return it via the app by specifying the location.

In all cases, use an app to check whether the return was successful and inform customer service immediately if this is not the case.

The specific systems’ websites for each city explain how the rental works in this city. If you don’t know the system’s website, please use the location search.

* Bikes with framelocks cannot be returned via hotline.

The return was not successful. What should I do?

Please report failed returns immediately to our customer service via app support or the hotline and have the bike number, the parking location and the actual use time ready. Our customer service can be contacted via app under support or via the hotline stated in the footer of the system’s website.

Don’t worry about possible charges if our customer service can’t deal with your case right away. No charges apply as long as you tried to contact them right away.

Where are the WienMobil Rad stations?

WienMobil Rad brings bike sharing to all 23 districts of Vienna and is therefore available throughout the city. All stations and their current utilization can be viewed digitally in the nextbike app or in the WienMobil app. You can also find a station map with all WienMobil bike locations here.

Can I ride my bike outside the city limits?

Yes, but the rental must be terminated at a WienMobil bike station and the bike must be properly returned to a WienMobil bike station.

Can I also return WienMobil bikes to a nextbike station in Lower Austria?

WienMobil bikes may only be returned to WienMobil bike stations. You may of course ride your WienMobil bike beyond the city limits, but you must return it in Vienna, otherwise additional service fees will be charged.

Virtual WienMobil Rad stations are set up directly adjacent to existing nextbike Lower Austria stations in Vienna. For example, you can park your nextbike Lower Austria bike in Hütteldorf at the nextbike Lower Austria station and then borrow a WienMobil bike and return it to one of over 200 stations throughout the city.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Our bikes

What is the maximum load of the bikes?

The maximum load of our bikes and e-bikes is 100 kg, of which a maximum of 5 kg may be transported in the basket.

Find the information about the maximum load for cargobikes on the stickers on the transport boxes.

What types of bikes are available from WienMobil Rad?

WienMobil bikes are smart bikes with seven or eight gears and individually adjustable saddles. All bikes are equipped with GPS and a frame lock. There are also at least 50 WienMobil bikes with integrated child seats and cargo bikes (transport bikes).

Does WienMobil Rad offer children’s bikes, helmets and trailers?

WienMobil Rad has bikes specially equipped with child seats (max. load 20 kg). Simply select the appropriate bike in the nextbike app using the filter symbol on the map under “Bike type”.

Additional accessories cannot be rented.

Tariffs and conditions

How can I cancel tariffs?

Tariffs that don’t prolong automatically do not have to be cancelled. Tariffs with automatic renewal can be cancelled in the app.

Do I have to notify changes to my Wiener Linien annual pass number?

The validity of the card number is checked annually and invalid card numbers are deleted.

How do I get my regular customer (“Stammkund*innen”) discount?

After completing registration, Wiener Linien regular customers can link up with the appropriate partner in the app under “Wallet” and travel for 50% less after verification.

The discount applies to holders of annual season tickets, semester tickets, (Top) youth tickets and climate tickets.

Holders of Top/youth tickets will receive a voucher code at all Wiener Linien information and ticket offices on presentation of their ticket. This voucher code can be redeemed in the app under “Vouchers”. The link to the appropriate partner account is created automatically and you travel with the WienMobil Mix fare for regular customers.

Other

Who operates WienMobil Rad?

As part of a Europe-wide tender by Wiener Linien, nextbike GmbH was awarded the contract to provide and operate the new bike sharing system under the WienMobil Rad brand. This gives Wiener Linien an experienced partner whose services can be used by customers in over 300 cities worldwide.