One-way streets, play streets or bike lanes? Everything doesn't matter. Drivers simply speed up. The final solution: bollards, bollards, bollards!

Protects cyclists from cars: a flexible bollard on the Holzmarktstraße in Mitte, Berlin Photo: instant photography/ KMKrause

If you want to know what the biggest mobility problem in Germany is, you have to go to Berlin-Mitte. At the end of last year, Tucholskystraße was converted into a bicycle street. Of course, the eloquent namesake of this street will be turning in his grave because now he too will be used for this euphemism. Because here too, as almost everywhere, it is simply an access road to parking lots for residents, where, according to the street signs, cyclists are welcome (although not drivers).

The real attraction is the so-called neighborhood block at the intersection with Auguststraße. There are now some red and white bollards arranged diagonally. Cyclists can and can race quickly there. But not the drivers. You have to turn. What was once a popular secret route for motorists controlled by Google Maps through the center of the inner-city residential neighborhood became a comparatively quiet side street. Gorgeous.

What was really illuminating for anyone interested in transportation policy was the three or four weeks leading up to the installation of the bollards. Cars were also prohibited from passing through there. According to the traffic signs already posted, turning was only allowed and in one direction only. But what were the drivers doing? Some stopped briefly, looking unsure, before continuing straight on. Others continued riding without stopping. At most a third followed the indicated direction. Which is not surprising from a mathematical point of view, given three possibilities. In short: motorized machines simply didn't care about traffic rules. There were only changes when the red and white posts were installed. Since then there has been peace.

Without consideration

An isolated case? You are welcome. This can be seen everywhere in Berlin, where traffic signs ask drivers to be considerate of other road users. They just don't stop. One-way traffic rules for cars on bicycle streets? Oh well, close your eyes and get over it! Walking speed on game streets? Only applies to kids who honk on the side! Parking spaces reserved for suppliers or people with disabilities? Relax, I'll only be here for a few minutes.

And that finally brings us to the topic of this text. Berlin Transport Senator Manja Schreiner (CDU (What else? (well, it wouldn't necessarily be better with the SPD either))) slowed down so much in her first year in office that not even half of the funding for the cycle was They withdrew the financial resources planned for the expansion of the road. And Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP (i.e. from the same party as Transport Minister Wissing)) has casually cut all funding for the construction of bicycle parking at train stations in his austerity budget.

You're not used to anything else about these holidays. Otherwise. They are chosen exactly for this garbage. Drivers are not only annoying on the roads, but especially in politics.

The FDP between means of transport

One might expect something different from the FDP, at least if it took itself seriously as a liberal party.

Cyclists are agile, always flowing, like fish in a school. Dynamically and independently, they seize every opportunity to progress while creating space for those behind them. Your individual impulse accelerates the entire system. In a utopian city without motorized traffic, “right before left” would be sufficient, that is, a minimum of government requirements. In other words: the bicycle is the FDP among means of transport. Only the FDP doesn't know it: they sit in the BMW and believe that freedom can only exist at speeds of 150 kilometers per hour.

So you can and should continue to be angry with cars, their drivers and parties (which, by the way, has nothing to do with driving electric cars, which are only a problem in overcrowded urban centers). If you want to stop them, you have to place bollards. On the streets. And even better in the next elections.