More on Bikes in Berlin

Renate's bike: Upright, fenders, rack, lights, bell

 One of the truly great things about Berlin is that you're really better off not having a car - and while public transportation is convenient, I like getting around by bike even better. Shortly after we arrived, James and I went to a large bike shop and left with 2 used bikes, two helmets, and two locks. I bought a very traditional German bike, I'd say 80% of Berliners use a bike like this. It's a little heavy, the tires are a little wide. Five gears, coaster breaks, and lights front and back (required by law). It's comfortable, and with traffic being what it is, I prefer to go a little more slowly anyway.

James' bike: shocks, more gears, mountain bike tires and a cool paint job

James bought a slightly cooler bike with adjustable shocks, and with no fenders and rack. He can go faster than I can. We lock the bikes up in the Hinterhof, small square of paving between four houses where the trash cans and everyone else's bikes are. James locks his bike to a railing, it's a little more expensive. I'm not too worried about my bike, though I lock it to itself to discourage the casual thief.

We keep forgetting the helmets because we have to carry them upstairs so they won't get wet. The bikes do get wet when it rains, but then, everyone's bikes get wet when it rains. And everyone's bikes have to be parked somewhere - it's amazing how much bike parking there is, and it still isn't always enough.

Typical bike parking around tree

Above, a typical neighborhood bike parking area surrounding a tree. Three or, more often, two metal arcs, each with room for two bikes, maybe three. Sometimes the tree gets a bike or two as well...

Bike parking near KaWeDe

In commercial areas, for example near the KaDeWe above, things get a bit trickier - there's only so much room. So bikes are locked to street signs and lamp posts, and large bike racks are available. The bike rack above had a chain & ring design: you threaded your lock through the ring and attached the bike.

Chain and ring bike parking

Of course you had to later remember which of the 3 racks your bike was in. And I do get the impression that a certain percentage of the bikes is just sitting there rusting, waiting forever for owners who forgot them - or who maybe couldn't find them anymore.

Still, I'm very impressed how much thought city planners put into making things convenient for bikes. And it does pay off - I can't imagine the traffic jam if all the bicyclists were driving.

In general, parking gets a little tricky near subway stops and near large stores, but it's always possible to find a spot. And with my bike, I'm not too worried if I can't lock it against something for a few hours. There's probably something more attractive to steal nearby.

James already talked in an earlier post about the special traffic light for bikes and the lane separation. But there's more:

Sometimes bikes can go both ways, clearly indicated by markings. 

Sometimes bikes can't enter a street and have to go left or right.

Left turns at roundabouts are at times a bit challenging - I had a lot of trouble figuring out the markings above. But then, one can always get off the bike and walk for a bit. Not as fast, but so much to see....