4 ms·

I’m not sure about the explicit training, but drivers in Germany are generally pretty excellent when it comes to dealing with cyclists.

by laingc 9y ago

Grumbledour 9y ago
Ha! Good one! Maybe compared with other countries? But that doesn't stop them from ignoring your right of way, parking in the bike lane, pushing you to the side at red lights or pushing in front of you dangerously even when its not you who is blocking traffic, because obviously there is nothing worse than being stuck behind a cyclist. Not to pile on to much on the drivers, because other cyclists are also often terrible in their behavior on the street, but they at least are less deadly to other cyclists. So while it could certainly be worse, there is a lot you have to deal with when sharing the road with drivers who either ignore or outright hate you.
- laingc 9y ago
  Compared with other countries I’ve lived in, Germany is a dream for cyclists. Of course, I haven’t cycled in very many countries even within Europe, so it may well be that Germany is not so great in the grand scheme of things - I couldn’t tell you.
  - smueller1234 9y ago
    As a German having lived in the Netherlands for many years: the Dutch win in this discipline hands down. Bike lanes that seem like an Autobahn sometimes. Very aggressive policy to try to discourage cars at all in at least Amsterdam. Everyone knows cyclists kind of have the right of way (mostly because they seem to ignore the danger of playing chicken with a car). I've lived in two major cities in NL and seen a few others. While Amsterdam clearly went further than others, even the Hague was better for cyclists than a university town in Germany.
    - Fnoord 9y ago
      And the Prime Minister of The Netherlands (Mark Rutte) goes to work in The Hague with..? A car? Nope, a bicycle.
- merb 9y ago
  > because other cyclists are also often terrible in their behavior on the street well yes. car drivers are bad. but cyclists, are too. in germany, freiburg the cyclists basically drive how they want. which means, they do not care for red light, they cross zebra's mounted on the bike (which is a no-go since stopping for a _fast_ bike is basically way harder than stopping for walking people), they turn left without noticing traffic behind them, etc. this makes it hard to drive with cyclists. of course most car drivers also drive pretty recklessness.
tnolet 9y ago
Hmmm, being Dutch living in Berlin I have to frown at this. In the busier areas around Mitte and Kreuzberg I regularly have to swerve around cars that seemingly are oblivious of cyclists. But I’m probably spoiled due to being used to the Dutch bike path system.
odiroot 9y ago
Maybe it's Berlin specific but I can't count how many times I've got bump/pushed by a right-turning car while going straight ahead myself. Usually it's taxis, delivery and BMW drivers trying to catch the "late yellow".

I’m not sure about the explicit training, but drivers in Germany are generally pretty excellent when it comes to dealing with cyclists.

by laingc 9y ago

I’m not sure about the explicit training, but drivers in Germany are generally pretty excellent when it comes to dealing with cyclists.

Grumbledour 9y ago

Ha! Good one! Maybe compared with other countries? But that doesn't stop them from ignoring your right of way, parking in the bike lane, pushing you to the side at red lights or pushing in front of you dangerously even when its not you who is blocking traffic, because obviously there is nothing worse than being stuck behind a cyclist. Not to pile on to much on the drivers, because other cyclists are also often terrible in their behavior on the street, but they at least are less deadly to other cyclists. So while it could certainly be worse, there is a lot you have to deal with when sharing the road with drivers who either ignore or outright hate you.

laingc 9y ago
Compared with other countries I’ve lived in, Germany is a dream for cyclists. Of course, I haven’t cycled in very many countries even within Europe, so it may well be that Germany is not so great in the grand scheme of things - I couldn’t tell you.
- smueller1234 9y ago
  As a German having lived in the Netherlands for many years: the Dutch win in this discipline hands down. Bike lanes that seem like an Autobahn sometimes. Very aggressive policy to try to discourage cars at all in at least Amsterdam. Everyone knows cyclists kind of have the right of way (mostly because they seem to ignore the danger of playing chicken with a car). I've lived in two major cities in NL and seen a few others. While Amsterdam clearly went further than others, even the Hague was better for cyclists than a university town in Germany.
  - Fnoord 9y ago
    And the Prime Minister of The Netherlands (Mark Rutte) goes to work in The Hague with..? A car? Nope, a bicycle.
merb 9y ago
> because other cyclists are also often terrible in their behavior on the street well yes. car drivers are bad. but cyclists, are too. in germany, freiburg the cyclists basically drive how they want. which means, they do not care for red light, they cross zebra's mounted on the bike (which is a no-go since stopping for a _fast_ bike is basically way harder than stopping for walking people), they turn left without noticing traffic behind them, etc. this makes it hard to drive with cyclists. of course most car drivers also drive pretty recklessness.

tnolet 9y ago

Hmmm, being Dutch living in Berlin I have to frown at this. In the busier areas around Mitte and Kreuzberg I regularly have to swerve around cars that seemingly are oblivious of cyclists. But I’m probably spoiled due to being used to the Dutch bike path system.

odiroot 9y ago

Maybe it's Berlin specific but I can't count how many times I've got bump/pushed by a right-turning car while going straight ahead myself. Usually it's taxis, delivery and BMW drivers trying to catch the "late yellow".