Berlin cyclists demand more space for bikes
June 2, 2019
Masses of people braved the heat in the German capital on Sunday to join a cycle rally calling for more space for bikes on Berlin's roads.
The German Cyclists Association (ADFC), which organizes the annual event, wants to see a shift in the city's infrastructure, which they say is geared towards cars rather than bicycle traffic.
Read more: Zig-zag bike line a new twist for Berlin cyclists
Cycling in the sun
The ADFC said around 90,000 people were taking part, but police told Berlin public broadcaster rbb the turnout was under 30,000. Some 250,000 participants were registered to take part.
"It's very hot, some might prefer the lake to the road," an ADFC spokesman told German news agency DPA in Berlin, where a high of 31 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) was forecast.
Read more: Which German cities are the most bicycle-friendly?
Sunday's rally covered 19 different routes in Berlin and Brandenburg, all of them culminating at the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten park.
Many people tweeted from the road using the hashtag #MehrPlatzfuersRad (More space for bikes).
Call for change in cities
Bicycle traffic in Berlin grew by 9% in 2018 alone, according to the ADFC.
"Cyclists are squeezed into narrow strips, while more and more cars guzzle space on the road," it said in a statement, adding that it was time for politicians to make "brave decisions" and redistribute city space.
The first ADFC cycle rally took place in 1977. The cycling association has dubbed its event the "biggest bicycle demo in the world," although the number of participants varies from year to year.
The ADFC typically estimates a turnout of around 100,000, but police counts usually range from 20,000 to 30,000.
Read more: What Berlin can learn from Germany's cycling metropolis Münster
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