Rules of the Road, and other Places: Volume 2 - Bike Riding!

Shiny as can be!

     For most Americans who live in a city, riding a bike to work, school, or just as general transportation, is often a fact of life, due to the lack of available parking, city traffic, and the pure ease of use.  Here in Leipzig, as well as in other cities, many Germans opt to ride their bikes for the same reasons.  However, unlike in the United States, where bicyclists are given the same right to the road as motorists, without any real restriction, the story is a little different in Germany.

Lets take a poll, do my lights work or not?

     First and foremost, make sure that your bike has a set of lights, white in front and red in back, which are fully operational.  The police are allowed to issue citations if your bike doesn't have any (day or night), or if you are riding without them on (at night).  Police aside, it is a good idea to have them anyway, as it can be difficult to for motorists and pedestrians to see you at night, as well as for you to see the road.  The Germans do love their cobblestones and pavers after all.

Verboten!!!

     As with any car, truck, or motorcycle, listening to music through headphones is forbidden (and frankly dangerous).  Also, talking on a phone or texting while you are sitting on the bike, even while stopped, can draw a citation, should a police officer stop you.  Oddly enough however, helmets are not required.  You also don't really have the right of way outside of the bike path though, so I would recommend that you invest in one.

This one is Dutch.  Don't worry about it.

     Finally, pay attention to the lights and to the bike paths!  On most large streets, there will be a dedicated bike path, which are typically distinguishable from the sidewalk by their red color or different pattern (compared to the sidewalk's paving stones), or are a narrow, lined section of the street, between car lanes and the sidewalk.  If there is a path available, take it and stay to the right.  If there is none, use your best judgement as to where it is safer to ride.
     As far as lights go, obey them.  Everyone else is doing it, and they even have lights with bicycle symbols on them, depending on the particular intersection.
     And finally, stay aware of your surroundings and have fun!  You're roaming a German city after all!

Proverb of the Day:

Don't chain your bike to a bridge with a low fence.  As some poor souls in Gӧttingen learned,

the people who are just loud enough to be annoying at 3am love to make bikes "hang out."

*Source links included for stock images.

**The background music is from a personal music project in progress.

***Right of way goes: Trains > Trams > Cars > Bikes > People.  Don't forget it.