I had the pleasure to spend a few days in Germany with some local friends and took a few photos of the rad bike stuff they have there. I was in Bremen and Hamburg. In addition to the bike stuff, their public transportation system was incredible. Clean, efficient and widely used. We bought a round trip train ticket to Hamburg for five people that was also good for public transportation in Hamburg for 29 euro!
Here are some photos.
This was right around the corner from their house in Bremen. Each brick type has a different purpose. The red bricks on the sidewalk mark the bike lane, you never have to worry about repainting! All of the residential streets are one way, but bikes can go either way in the street.
Covered bike parking outside an office building.
Parking outside the Bremen train station. They also had secured bike parking you could pay for.
This is right outside the train station in Bremen, I am crossing over a street car transit mall when I took this photo. The signs show the car parking garage capacity and that's all free covered bike parking.
Ramp for your bike to get up the stairs!
Bremen bike tour sign and a way finding sign.
This transit and pedestrian mall was packed with people on Saturday. Ironically Mercedes was setting up a tent to the left of this photo trying to sell cars to Germans who don't want them.
rsprake - Love the pictures. thanks so much for sharing them.
The different colored bricks thing is such a good idea! (of course, they have those in regent square already, right;)
did you find it easy to figure out the system on your own? also, what was the topography like? I've always had the idea that the great euro biking cities are all flat and that's why everyone bikes. tell me it's not true!
Topography is flat. I didn't have the chance to ride while I was there but it was obvious looking around what you were supposed to do. They also had left turn bike boxes at intersections, bike stop lights and when a bike lane had to move to the street it was always signed. The hardest thing to get used to was stepping off of a bus and having to lookout for cyclists on what would in the states be a sidewalk.
Those pictures are fantastic, they make me jealous and sad at the same time. The Germans just seem to quietly go about doing the most sensible things.
Those brick paved streets are ridiculously expensive. Somehow this capitalistic society, with a very high standard of living, has convinced the citizenry that spending money on the public realm is in everyone's best interest. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?!
They certainly know how to enjoy life. We always seem to hear about other cities like Copenhagen, but like you said the Germans have been quietly doing their thing.
Thanks, rsprake!
@emonds ...spending money on the public realm is in everyone's best interest.
That is SOCIALISM!
It's evil and unless we are constantly vigilant and loudly hostile towards any progressive voice, it might happen here!
I'm with Mick on this one. We need to send over a couple gangs of Vikings with U-locks to teach those Germans about the true meaning of freedom!
@Mick -- it's not so much the Socialism as it is the population density. If we could get folks to actually live in the city (and also convince people to do business in the city), we might get cool stuff too.
Every time I am up on Spring Hill and I look out over the city, I wonder why everyone lives in the 'burbs...we just don't seem to all get it.
land use policy really makes the difference between us and them. keeping rural rural and urban urban with little between.
brick pavers expensive? not to zee jermins
@ rocco it's not so much the Socialism as it is the population density. If we could get folks to actually live in the city ...
Now, I was joking, but...
Having the government telling you where to live? Like, in the same neighborhoods minorities are allowed to live in? Like in ways that would conserve energy, preserve farmland, equalize education, and help the environment? Even with the most moderate regulations in that direction?
The kerfluffle we've seen over a moderate mid-20th-century-type health plan will seem so small in camparison as to not be mentioned in the history books.
Canada = the Red Army.
It's the new working equation.
Sloaps, I've seen that paver machine, one of the most brilliant things ever. I'm just not sure how it works in a downtown, around curves, trolley tracks, light poles, sewer grates, and that kind of stuff.
Time to move to Germany...
I don't know, that weather seems too much like here. If I ever move outta here, there will need to be beaches and palm trees. Something a little more like Barcelona, mmm.
@edmonds - same as any other paving operation. be it an asphalt or concrete paver, power screed or reclaimer, you simply mow through the bulk areas and perform handwork through the delicate spots.
Like this - just be certain to have dub or someother form of electronica available
Total thread hijack:
I love all the brick laying machines. I also found this one that recycles the paverers- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AaPmwOFpE8&feature=related
Which leads me to think that tearing up the street to replace water lines, etc. would be a no brainer. Just scoop up the road, send it away to be cleaned up, then relay it. Besides using less raw material, I think it uses less manpower.
Very cool. Sloaps, any idea if these pavers do away with the need for a stormwater system? That right there would offset the increased cost of installation. The whole compacted gravel base could be a retention system.
I'd love to see more brick around here. I think it's fun to bike along reasonably even brick streets. It's certainly fun to hear and feel them rattling around underneath my wheels. Example: Smithfield, turning left onto Liberty. It's one of those wonderful little bits about riding in Pittsburgh.
Moar brick crosswalks! Moar, I say!
