We all know the value of charitable work can hardly be put into bare figures. For this reason, Zedler-Group supports the bicycle as well as the electric-assisted bike for free in many ways.
Commitment within committees and workshops
The quality, user-friendliness and safety of bicycles and e-bikes as well as the professionalism of the manufacturers and retailers are our concern. Dirk Zedler and his team members therefore share their professional expertise on a voluntary basis with other specialists having the same objectives. On the national level this is the voluntary commitment to the DIN-committee for bicycles. Since 1995 graduate engineer Dirk Zedler has been involved in the further development of the future-oriented technical standards. In addition, we share our experience in the field of material reseach and testing with members of Deutscher Verband für Materialforschung und -prüfung e.V. (DVM) (German Association for Materials Research and Testing) and are involved in the development of high-quality workshops in bicycle engineering. The latest issue Zedler – Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH initiated was the joint development of the guidelines for modifications on electric-assisted bikes (guidelines for parts replacement) together with the retailer specialists of Verbund Service und Fahrrad (VSF g.e.V.) (German service and bicycle association) as well as Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) (German Bicycle Association). These guidelines list all components on electric bicycles which can be replaced without the manufacturer’s or driving system supplier’s permission as well as all parts which need their permission for liability reasons.
Assistance for magazines and TV-productions
In addition to remunerated work, Zedler-Group persistently support renowned magazines and independent TV-productions which on their part are in a position to inform interested consumers objectively and meaningfully about the advantages and deficiencies of current products on the market. Following the highly controversial e-bike test of the German product testers at StiWa’s in 2013, Dirk Zedler invited the responsible test and business unit managers to visit his test laboratory in order to analyse with them the mistakes made during the test setup and how to avoid these mistakes in future. The Zedler team invested all in all six man-days to bring StiWa into the position to create more informative laboratory tests for pedeles in future.
Commitment in associations
As supporter of the German branch association VSF we do not only support the work of the trade association financially, but also by offering technical training, i.e. on the occasion of VSF-Akademie or the cycle conference vivavelo as well as by providing individual counselling for VSF members.
Dirk Zedler is active in the board of directors of the German association "Bundesverband Zukunft Fahrrad e.V.“ (BVZF). The objective of the association made up of service providers of the cycle industry is pushing forward a sustainable change in mobility by putting the bicycle at the core. Dirk Zedler is active in the board of directors and committed to the issue bicycle safety.
In addition, Zedler-Institut is among the founding members of "Förderkreis Wirtschaft, Politik & Gesellschaft“ (promotion circle economy, politics and society) intended to initiate a dialogue between economy, institutions and politics about the future of local and regional mobility together with the Work Group Bicycle and Pedestrian-Friendly Communities in Baden-Wuerttemberg (AGFK-BW) and the support of Baden-Wuerttemberg's Ministry for Transport.
Specialist presentations in the sector
Furthermore, we strengthen the competence of manufacturers, distributors, specialist retailers and bicycle and e-bike mechanics with independent expert presentations at conferences of the industry and on the occasion of further training, i.e. "Basic knowledge of e-bike technology" (Battery University, Karlstein), "Liability pitfalls in the cycle industry" (Business Brunch, Schweinfurt), "Responsible lightweight constructions" (practical seminar, Lucerne), "Expert walk e-bike" (Eurobike Show, Friedrichshafen ), "Damage incurred in practice on carbon components" (Fahrrad-Entwicklerkongress (bicycle developer conference), Munich) or "CE marking in the case of electric-assisted bikes " (Stevens Vertriebs GmbH, Hamburg). These kinds of training are often held free-of-charge or at considerably reduced rates to ensure that as much interested specialists as possible are able to participate.
In the industrial area around Baden-Wuerttemberg’s state capital Zedler-Group is voluntarily engaged in the professional training at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Stuttgart region. Dirk Zedler has greatly contributed to establishing the recognised apprenticeship trade "bicycle mechanic" in the region. He works on a voluntary basis as expert in the board of examiners.
Local commitment
In the region Zedler-Group also supports sustainable mobility and in particular the recognition of the bicycle and the e-bike. Since 2011 we have been participating in the Working Group "Electromobility" of the City of Ludwigsburg (member of the test region electromobility Stuttgart) together with other specialists from industry, research and trade in projects like "Ludwigsburg elektrisiert!" (Ludwigsburg electrifies!).
As we take part in events like "Radkulturtag" (an event celebrating the bicycle) and the open-house event of the local industrial zone and as the work and the community commitment of Zedler-Group are often subject of media reports in the press, awareness for both the bicycle and the electric-assisted bike are created in people’s minds thus strengthening its reputation as reasonable alternative to the established public means of transport. Thanks to numerous articles on our bicycle commitment in regional daily newspapers (Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung, Bietigheimer Zeitung, Marbacher Zeitung, Neckar-und Enzbote, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Stuttgarter Zeitung) and business magazines (179-Wirtschaftsregion Stuttgart, Ludwigsburger Wirtschaftsbrief, Magazin Wirtschaft of CCI Stuttgart, Nemo) we have been able to draw the attention to the bicycle in the large Stuttgart region more than any other private company.
Historical bicycle collection
Already in the very beginning of working as bicycle expert Dirk Zedler started to build up a collection of extraordinary bicycles from the past 200 years together with the Ludwigsburg-based bicycle lover Helge Schultz. Today, this collection comprises about 300 objects and is thus one of the biggest collections in Europe. To date the historical bicycles have been presented in the rooms of the company or used for tours only on the occasion of special events, such as “Radkulturtag 2015”. The new headquarter which will be finished just in time for the 200th birthday of the bicycle in 2017 will provide space to present the comprehensive collection also to a broader public.