France may bang with its self-service bikes, it is far from equalling Berlin, European champion of the bicycle. In France, the bicycle is not yet another real mode of movement. The German capital, despite of its size, its chilly climate and its charming pavements, is, with Copenhagen, Amsterdam or Munster, the paradise of the cyclists. The whole thing without big statements of the mayor in favour of this non-polluting and good "for the health" way of transporting. Here are ten reasons for which the bike in the country of Angela Merkel, it is "sehr gut” (very good).
You find bicycle paths everywhere :
With the exception of Strasbourg, none of the French cities which I visited do not consider the bicycle as a mode of movement. Naturally, every mayor owes a small genuflection in front of Holy Sustainable development. So, many towns develop cycle networks, regrettably often pathetic and splited. Not really effective and little scary, they are quite logically little taken. In Berlin, bicycle paths are everywhere : in secured lanes; on pavement; in ways shared with buses … Faster, more comfortable, more reassuring. Who spoke about German efficiency?
The city is flat :
It is true that using your bicycle in Lisbon, Croix-Rousse in Lyon, in northern districts of Marseille is possible for professionals. Not for the common of people. Despite of its big size, 39 kilometers on 45, Berlin has no inconvenience to impose us too many efforts nor of change of gear.
Buildings have parking lots with bike fitted out :
Visionary, my owner - when I lived in France - threatened me to end my lease. My crime ? I persisted, subversive naughty boy I am, to park every evening my bike into the spacious and empty courtyard and of my building. So much to say to you that my German friends look at me with an ironic compassion when I tell them my misadventure " typisch fransözich ". And for a very good reason. The Berlin inner courtyards, in their immense majority, are endowed with parking lots for bikes, in particular thanks to the renovation of the real estates at the east of the city after the German reunification. And their inhabitants with a turn of mind a little more evolved than the one of my previous owner - very kind in fact. These parking lots are even sometimes covered. So, your faithful bicycle is protected from the bad weather, the thieves or the damages. If however a building does not arrange parking places, nobody will come to annoy you if you leave your bicycle in the courtyard or the hall. Other country, other standards.
Bicycles can use public transports :
You read well. And it is the rule, not the exception. The S-Bahn, the U-bahn, Strassenbahn or Regionalbahn ( TER have spacious reserved places in which we can transport our bike, for an additional ticket costing 1,50 euro (a normal ticket is itself 2,10 euro). Nothing to do with two poor pitiful and little functional hooks which the SNCF (French national railway) gives in some of its trains. Easily, we can come to the station with the bike and once arrived at destination, ending your route on two wheels. Good in terms of time of transport. Not bad either to accommodate a baby car. No need to say to you that in the trains which lead to the places of bathings of the surroundings of Berlin during the summer weekends, bikes are piled up in a totally grotesque way.
We can drive in parks :
Contrary to numerous French public gardens, the Berlin parks are opened at night. We can even make barbecues. And on top of the crazy freedom which reigns in the Teutonic capital, we can walk on the grass without being whistled by a guard. Yes. In Berlin, the public place belongs to everybody. In France you have the feeling it up to nobody. Result : you can cross a park on your bike without having the feeling to be a dangerous delinquent. In Paris, you risk in theory a 38-euro fine.
Automobiles do not want your death (not always) :
Do not believe that the French drivers are ill-intentioned (although sometimes ...). Simply, their Berlin congeners are often themselves cyclists. They master the reflexes of caution allowing to avoid accidents, as for example to glance behind at the time of turning to the right. And more the cyclists are, the more the car drivers are used to their presence.
Taxis which embark them with you :
Only Copenhagen allows, to my knowledge, to transport your bicycle by taxi for half an additional euro by fare (the driver cannot refuse to embark your bicycle at the risk of a fine). What is very practical when you go to a party with your bike and between drinking or driving your bike, you chose to raise the elbow. Nobody's perfect, Berlin no more than another city.
Detours, even for bicycles :
In case of works, detours include also the paths for the bicycles. So much consideration is almost moving !
A lot of places to park :
Arches allowing to hang on bikes are many. But especially, they are placed where you need them, near public transportation, business centers or universities for example. An element of reassurance in front of risk of theft. Regrettably, in France, roads offices arrange them roughly at guess - when they make the effort to make it.
The beautiful calfs :
Fortunately Berlin's winter is long, because no need to say to you that when are discovered the beautiful rounded calfs of people cycling, It deconcentrates you. And I do not even speak to you about beautiful firm thighs … It is the most beautiful doubtless success. The feeling to make sustainable development, Berlin makes in reality some desirable development!
You find bicycle paths everywhere :
With the exception of Strasbourg, none of the French cities which I visited do not consider the bicycle as a mode of movement. Naturally, every mayor owes a small genuflection in front of Holy Sustainable development. So, many towns develop cycle networks, regrettably often pathetic and splited. Not really effective and little scary, they are quite logically little taken. In Berlin, bicycle paths are everywhere : in secured lanes; on pavement; in ways shared with buses … Faster, more comfortable, more reassuring. Who spoke about German efficiency?
The city is flat :
It is true that using your bicycle in Lisbon, Croix-Rousse in Lyon, in northern districts of Marseille is possible for professionals. Not for the common of people. Despite of its big size, 39 kilometers on 45, Berlin has no inconvenience to impose us too many efforts nor of change of gear.
Buildings have parking lots with bike fitted out :
Visionary, my owner - when I lived in France - threatened me to end my lease. My crime ? I persisted, subversive naughty boy I am, to park every evening my bike into the spacious and empty courtyard and of my building. So much to say to you that my German friends look at me with an ironic compassion when I tell them my misadventure " typisch fransözich ". And for a very good reason. The Berlin inner courtyards, in their immense majority, are endowed with parking lots for bikes, in particular thanks to the renovation of the real estates at the east of the city after the German reunification. And their inhabitants with a turn of mind a little more evolved than the one of my previous owner - very kind in fact. These parking lots are even sometimes covered. So, your faithful bicycle is protected from the bad weather, the thieves or the damages. If however a building does not arrange parking places, nobody will come to annoy you if you leave your bicycle in the courtyard or the hall. Other country, other standards.
Bicycles can use public transports :
You read well. And it is the rule, not the exception. The S-Bahn, the U-bahn, Strassenbahn or Regionalbahn ( TER have spacious reserved places in which we can transport our bike, for an additional ticket costing 1,50 euro (a normal ticket is itself 2,10 euro). Nothing to do with two poor pitiful and little functional hooks which the SNCF (French national railway) gives in some of its trains. Easily, we can come to the station with the bike and once arrived at destination, ending your route on two wheels. Good in terms of time of transport. Not bad either to accommodate a baby car. No need to say to you that in the trains which lead to the places of bathings of the surroundings of Berlin during the summer weekends, bikes are piled up in a totally grotesque way.
We can drive in parks :
Contrary to numerous French public gardens, the Berlin parks are opened at night. We can even make barbecues. And on top of the crazy freedom which reigns in the Teutonic capital, we can walk on the grass without being whistled by a guard. Yes. In Berlin, the public place belongs to everybody. In France you have the feeling it up to nobody. Result : you can cross a park on your bike without having the feeling to be a dangerous delinquent. In Paris, you risk in theory a 38-euro fine.
Automobiles do not want your death (not always) :
Do not believe that the French drivers are ill-intentioned (although sometimes ...). Simply, their Berlin congeners are often themselves cyclists. They master the reflexes of caution allowing to avoid accidents, as for example to glance behind at the time of turning to the right. And more the cyclists are, the more the car drivers are used to their presence.
Taxis which embark them with you :
Only Copenhagen allows, to my knowledge, to transport your bicycle by taxi for half an additional euro by fare (the driver cannot refuse to embark your bicycle at the risk of a fine). What is very practical when you go to a party with your bike and between drinking or driving your bike, you chose to raise the elbow. Nobody's perfect, Berlin no more than another city.
Detours, even for bicycles :
In case of works, detours include also the paths for the bicycles. So much consideration is almost moving !
A lot of places to park :
Arches allowing to hang on bikes are many. But especially, they are placed where you need them, near public transportation, business centers or universities for example. An element of reassurance in front of risk of theft. Regrettably, in France, roads offices arrange them roughly at guess - when they make the effort to make it.
The beautiful calfs :
Fortunately Berlin's winter is long, because no need to say to you that when are discovered the beautiful rounded calfs of people cycling, It deconcentrates you. And I do not even speak to you about beautiful firm thighs … It is the most beautiful doubtless success. The feeling to make sustainable development, Berlin makes in reality some desirable development!
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