Bike Theft in Berlin

Bike theft in Berlin Germany sets the end of Merkel rule

Bikes are universal cheap easy simple transportation vehicles for local city traffic, also best for preventing air pollution, exhaust free solution to reduce atmosphere contamination. Berlin is a paradise for bike drivers, perfect environment for cycling with bike lanes everywhere. There are local bike trails with total sum exceeding 650km within urban city limits. Almost all smooth streets no ups and downs, no slopes. Bikers can pass long distances with cheap fare Sbahn, Ubahn metro tickets from one end to other end of the city. Berlin has approximately 3,3 million population (2017) whereas there are almost 2-million bikes in the city. In a business daytime there are almost 500 thousand bikes are in the daily traffic. Bikes contributes 13% of local transportation. There are "bike priority" roads. There were approximately 8000 bicycle accidents which occurred in year 2017. Most of the accidents occur in right turn of traffic lights, where cars turn right and collide with bikes going straight direction. Sudden opening of car doors may also create bike accidents. Fast young bikers may create dangerous situations for slow old age bikers. Your writer had hard times due to fast bikers passing from both sides in a narrow bike lane last summer. There are strict cycling rules in Berlin. You will wear safety helmet. You will go from right hand side of the road in bike lane. You will not use iphone ever. You will stop at red light. Otherwise you pay 100€ fine, we know since we paid once. Cyclist driving in reverse direction creates danger for sure.

There is a serious number of bike theft in Berlin, almost 100 thefts per day officially recorded as of year 2017, rate getting increased each following year. Statistics reveals that only 5% of theft are found.

Last week our bike was stolen. It was locked on an electric pole in front of our house with two strong chain locks. Thief has used chain saw. You have no chance to stop a thief with an electric chain saw, which can be purchased at nearest Bauhaus shop for 50€.

Last year we bought that bike for 1000€. It was a latest design with light weight. Amsterdam, Prague and Rome are worst in terms of bike theft. Stolen bikes are not sold in second hand open markets since penalties are too high, so bikes are transported to eastern European countries for reselling. Bike thefts are increased with incoming migrant floods. Thieves are mostly migrants or east Europeans. Berlin police reacts harshly to bike thieves publicly beating on the street when caught, without caring negative publicity. Neonazi right wing political party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) votes increase with migrant inflow. AfD has huge success in Eastern Germany, due to increase in unemployment, increase in migrants. If AfD will have any partnership in ruling in future, it will be due to Merkel's optimistic soft immigration policies, which increased unemployment, street crime and bike thefts. Angela Merkel is leaving the public office. She will not run in the next general elections. There are all types of theft increase. Our simple cheap door mat was stolen which was bought the cheapest for 4€ from nearest Bauhaus.

My red Peugeot bike was purchased in year 1965 as 9th grade high school summer present. After 10 years of riding, it was stolen from my balcony, since it was not locked properly, I felt relatively safe in our factory guest house. Thief also has stolen my precious childhood toy. That instance taught me not to rely on any loose situation, never leave any article on street, whatever tough locks we have.

When you face a bike theft, don't worry too much. Feel that it is the time to buy a new better design bike. Decathlon shop sells new design bikes for 159€. They are light weight, with no batteries to push. You get better health while riding your bike. You should never leave your bike on the street at night. You better keep your bike indoors, in your cellar, or at your balcony. There is no way, no safety caution you can protect your bike on the street.

Berlin outside temperature is around -1C these days in November. It is too cold. Street bikers are relatively in less numbers, however there are people with protective clothing to ride bikes in daytime traffic. New year fairgrounds are installed in public places, there are lots of junk food to eat, hot traditional wine and local beer service accompanied with loud pop music until midnight.

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

24- November 2018, Berlin, Deutschland

Ref. https://www.thelocal.de/20140717/germanys-vicious-cycle-of-bike-thefts

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Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of ODTÜ Alumni and Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.