“Happy New Year! Still allowed to say that, right?” — “Thanks, doing alright, and you?” — “Glad that year's over, huh? Yeah, oh man, me too! So, how's it looking?”
Well, there is progress, that's true: more bike lanes, Kiezblocks, bike streets. More and more people are switching to cycling; that's good for the climate, for traffic, for quality of life. But reality is lagging behind. I've been riding through Berlin as a bike courier for 10 years now, and I've watched the expansion stall. Budgets get cut, and plenty of bike lanes just end abruptly or are planned so badly they're actually dangerous.
Why does this affect everyone? A bike-friendly city isn't just good for cyclists. Cars come with enormous costs. Road repairs, made necessary by an ever-growing number of ever-heavier vehicles, exhaust fumes that harm our health, and accidents that can be extremely expensive, both for the healthcare system and for the people involved. Parking spaces? Private property on public land, that everyone pays for.
Fewer cars mean less traffic, less noise, fewer emissions, and more space for everyone. Kids can play more safely, cafés can put their tables out on the street, and the air gets cleaner. But instead of consistent, thorough redesign, we get half-hearted planning. Politicians celebrate tiny minimal wins as if they were huge achievements, while activists and groups like Changing Cities or the ADFC keep having to fight for safe bike lanes. Berlin could be a pioneer, a shining example, with its unique possibilities and wide, generous streets, but that takes more speed, more money, and above all: more will. We want, and need, a city that protects cyclists. Not just because it's fair, but because it's better for everyone: the environment, the wallet, our health.
So: apply pressure, talk about it, join the rides, demand it! Because a better city is possible, and we could all have it better. Without billionaires, and with fewer cars, more for everyone else instead. And always remember, whenever something feels unjust: trickle-down only works once the top actually melts!
Courier “El Niño 02” belongs to CROW Courier, which replaces delivery vans with cargo bikes and, in doing so, helps improve quality of life in the city. The car-free Berlin courier service also fosters a cooperative way of working. Info at crowberlin.de