German Cities Struggle with Rising Abandoned Cars and Bikes

Municipalities report increasing costs and challenges in removing abandoned vehicles and bicycles from public spaces.

Cities across Germany, including Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, report significant increases in abandoned cars and bicycles in 2024 compared to previous years.
In Munich, over 550 abandoned cars and 3,000 bicycles were removed in 2024, while Hamburg saw more than 4,500 discarded bikes and 2,900 abandoned vehicles.
The removal and disposal of these items impose high costs on municipalities, with Hamburg spending approximately €650,000 on abandoned cars in 2024 alone.
Experts attribute the issue to cost-saving attempts by owners, the convenience of public dumping, and a cultural tendency to discard rather than repair older items.
Efforts to address the problem include marking abandoned items for removal, fines for violations, and recycling or auctioning usable vehicles and bicycles.