Traffic in Germany is a bit weird. The motorways have no speed limit! This is probably ok because everyone here uses a bicycle. It is like Amsterdam, I am forever dodging irate peddlers! I guess it’s because it is quite flat where I am and also because the Germans are uber-concious when it comes to the environment (die Umwelt). Don’t get me started on the recycling! (That is for another time).
Anyway, a phrase which Klaus at work instilled into me is that ‘Rot bedeutet Tot!’ (Pronounced Rote and Tote, it rhymes!), which mean ‘Red equals Dead!’ this refers to the red bricked part of every pavement which is reserved only for cyclists. It is so easy to wander
across when one is absent mindedly strolling along. Usual the ‘ching ching’ of a bicycle bell saves me from a messy collision.
The Germans are also really anally retentive when it comes to crossing roads. In England we have the green man and the red man at crossings, it’s pretty useful because the green man stops traffic for us to cross, right? But, if nothing is coming we are allowed to cross without the help of the green man. Not so in Germany!! You have to wait until the light is green, regardless. I have waited for a good three minutes in the late evening with a clear view of the empty road because to cross the road on a red light in Germany is to become a leper of society! It’s ridiculous! My predecessor Nell was once cautioned by polic for crossing an empty road at night when there was a red light. I guess it might cut down on people getting run over but if the cars don’t get ya the bikes will so I fail to see the point of this nonsense!
# posted by Der Mike @ 3:58 AM
across when one is absent mindedly strolling along. Usual the ‘ching ching’ of a bicycle bell saves me from a messy collision. 