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The German parliament essentially has its own taxi service for the members to use within Berlin. The only reason to use something else for transport, like a bi
by DasIch 10y ago
The German parliament essentially has its own taxi service for the members to use within Berlin.
The only reason to use something else for transport, like a bicycle, is for political reasons.
Besides the parliament has no power over where subway lines in Berlin are built.
- lostlogin 10y agoUsing a bike for political reasons is a new one! Surely some of the more common reasons are valid - health, time saving, environmental concern?
- DasIch 10y agoThose are all good reasons to use a bike but if you use one as a politician (consider that Germany has a Green party that actually matters) it's also a way of showing "street cred", if you will. It will certainly come across better to your voters than taking the limo to the train station (Berlin central station is 5 min by foot away from the parliament), which is supposedly a fairly common occurrence.
- Symbiote 10y agoHardly. Before the Brexit mess, several senior members of the British government (and other senior politicians) would cycle to Parliament, and make sure people knew about it. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/dec/29/on-yer-bike-a-brief-history-of-cycling-politicians https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/dec/2... It's also a stereotype of particular type of man: living in SW London or around London, 40+, very high income. They used to buy sports cars, but anyone can afford that, much better to spend £4000 on a bike: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/mid-life-crisis-reduced-to-the-purchase-of-cycling-equipment-201009303131 http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/mid-life-crisis-r...