nextbike

Once we worked out all the issues, Nextbike was great: lots of bikes available at multiple stations, kept in top working condition. However - we had a terrible time getting an account setup (never got a confirmation text after MANY tries), and had one bike that wouldn’t unlock after we checked it out. Both times we called customer service and were connected immediately; both times the rep solved the problem immediately. Impressive! One caveat: be sure to return the bikes to a rack or there’s a €20 fine! Nextbike will refund it if you check out the same bike again - as a credit.

The e-bike was the perfect thing to take a self-guided tour of the many Jewish and Polish monuments that dot the city. I wanted something that would let me feel the distance between them without getting tired, and this was perfect. Using the e-power is seamless, it just makes it easier to ride - you don’t press any extra buttons. My battery lasted the entire time: I started with 66% and ended well above 50%. Good thing I had the e-bike for riding uphill on cobblestone in the old city… Bike and seat stayed comfortable the whole time, and the chain and gears never slipped. This app was excellent, fast to download, register, and go. It was easy to return the bike too. I ended my day in a completely different spot from where I started, and I didn’t even have to try to find a parking spot, it was just right there. Two guys were even there with a van to load up bikes that needed charging. Great service top to bottom.

I was mostly happy with this app and it allowed us to use bikes all over Berlin on a recent vacation. BUT, I would recommend against using the park feature if you’re stopping somewhere for a break and leaving the bikes unattended. It is not difficult for others to unlock the bikes and take them and ride them while you’re being charged. Our bikes were taken while locked and parked and the extremely rude and unhelpful customer service accused us of having left them unlocked; she then hung up on me after I asked to speak to a manager (how does their app not see that the bikes were parked and locked?). Afterward, I saw we were instantly charged €25 per bike. I will dispute this charge with my credit card company but that seems to be my only recourse. Also, I would encourage you to stop the rental each time you stop and leave your bikes, parking and locking them means nothing. It’s usually easy enough to find new bikes if needed. Again, mostly happy but the app needs work or it’s easily hacked, I don’t know.