4 ms·

I recently visited Berlin Germany and was impressed by how literally everyone uses bicycles there.

roelschroeven 7y ago
I once visited Berlin, and the tourist guide (I mean the book, not a person) also talked about how many bicycles there were. Thing is, I didn't think the number of bicycles was all that much different from what I was used to where I live (Antwerp, Belgium) or from visiting other European cities. Wait till you see Amsterdam or Kopenhagen!
- dna_polymerase 7y ago
  Or Utrecht, for that matter. In those cities riding the bike actually viable because there are bike lanes or closed down streets just for walking or bikes. It seems to be a cultural thing, most US cities are not that bike friendly.
- miguelmota 7y ago
  I was coming from Los Angeles where bicycle usage is a rarity so it was something I wasn't used to seeing!
davedx 7y ago
I visited Berlin this year and was disappointed at how we encountered 0 cycle lanes in the city. I work in Amsterdam so I'm spoiled, but my impression is that even London is better than Berlin for cycling. Maybe this is incorrect though, it's only based on one visit. The metro in Berlin was pretty decent though.
- carlob 7y ago
  > The metro in Berlin was pretty decent though. Crazy expensive compared to the cost of living though. One subway ride costs almost as much as a cheap meal (döner for example) and often more than a pint of beer. Contrast that with Paris where a subway ticket hardly gets you a coffee at the counter.
  - emsy 7y ago
    Yes, public transportation is oddly expensive in most German cities I know of. But the network is often very good and you can get special deals for month tickets with your employer.
  - davedx 7y ago
    Ah yeah I didn't notice that coming from the Netherlands where everything is expensive, both transport and meals. That is a shame as I think salaries in Germany aren't exactly mind blowing.
carlob 7y ago
Among large (northern) European cities, Germany is usually pretty car-friendly given how much of their economy relies on on car production. Copenhagen and Amsterdam are much more impressive IMHO.

I once visited Berlin, and the tourist guide (I mean the book, not a person) also talked about how many bicycles there were. Thing is, I didn't think the number of bicycles was all that much different from what I was used to where I live (Antwerp, Belgium) or from visiting other European cities. Wait till you see Amsterdam or Kopenhagen!

dna_polymerase 7y ago
Or Utrecht, for that matter. In those cities riding the bike actually viable because there are bike lanes or closed down streets just for walking or bikes. It seems to be a cultural thing, most US cities are not that bike friendly.
miguelmota 7y ago
I was coming from Los Angeles where bicycle usage is a rarity so it was something I wasn't used to seeing!

davedx 7y ago

I visited Berlin this year and was disappointed at how we encountered 0 cycle lanes in the city. I work in Amsterdam so I'm spoiled, but my impression is that even London is better than Berlin for cycling. Maybe this is incorrect though, it's only based on one visit. The metro in Berlin was pretty decent though.

carlob 7y ago
> The metro in Berlin was pretty decent though. Crazy expensive compared to the cost of living though. One subway ride costs almost as much as a cheap meal (döner for example) and often more than a pint of beer. Contrast that with Paris where a subway ticket hardly gets you a coffee at the counter.
- emsy 7y ago
  Yes, public transportation is oddly expensive in most German cities I know of. But the network is often very good and you can get special deals for month tickets with your employer.
- davedx 7y ago
  Ah yeah I didn't notice that coming from the Netherlands where everything is expensive, both transport and meals. That is a shame as I think salaries in Germany aren't exactly mind blowing.

carlob 7y ago

Among large (northern) European cities, Germany is usually pretty car-friendly given how much of their economy relies on on car production. Copenhagen and Amsterdam are much more impressive IMHO.