bikes rule

Lots of bikes at the S-bahn station

Berliners love their bikes. People every age ride em everywhere. Including Ian and I. Ian rides his to work, I ride mine to the market, to the park, to a friends house. It's great. Cars actually yield to bikes. And basically every road has some kind of bike lane. but with this convenience comes strict rules and regulations. (common theme in Germany: "rules") Like, every bike must have fenders and front and back lights. You have to know who has the right of way (German's are all about "right of ways") but every street is different, with a complex combination of signs, etc. Oddly enough, no one wears helmets. (except for us. don't worry mom!)

People do not hesitate to let you when you're not following the rules.
Case in point, the other day, i was riding my bike on the sidewalk (gasp) and an elderly woman angrily growled at me and i nearly fell off my bike. they don't like it when you ride on the sidewalk here (even though everyone does it). growling is a universal language, but how did she know i don't speak german?? Maybe it was the helmet.
--katie

Taking our bikes on a train ride to the country