Bankruptcy threatens Velocity Limburg

HEERLEN – Bicycle sharing supplier Velocity Limburg is in danger of being dragged into the fall of the German parent company. This is reported by Faillissementsdossier.nl.

The government, the Province of Limburg and the Parkstad City Region have invested heavily in Velocity Limburg. In South Limburg, which is enclosed between Belgium and Germany, Velocity Mobility has been invested with great enthusiasm and money. The idea of ​​offering citizens the opportunity to leave their car at home more often and cycle through the border area by fast, quiet e-bike sounded attractive. Governments of the border region invested significant amounts.

The first lending station was set up in Kerkrade in 2018 and the construction of twenty more stations began in 2021. For €1.50 per half hour, people could reserve a sustainable bicycle via an app for work or recreational rides through the picturesque hills.

Velocity Limburg initially showed positive figures. With 112 sharing stations around Aachen and monthly rental numbers of 27,000 e-bikes in June and 12,000 in one of the worst months, January, the project seemed successful. But Velocity Mobility faced financial problems due to corona measures and vandalism, with some of the German bicycles and stations destroyed. The financial burdens continued to pile up and bankruptcy of the parent company seemed inevitable.

The future of the fifteen employees was uncertain, and according to curator André Seckler there was no other option than to discontinue activities. Despite this threatening situation, Rob Beentjes of Parkstad City Region remains optimistic about the future of Limburg’s e-bike sharing systems. “We are looking beyond the possible bankruptcy and are in consultation with Aachen,” he said in De Limburger, hopeful about a solution that would allow the project to continue.
(PHOTOS: Velocity Limburg)