July, 2004 - Nr. 7
Bikers stage record-breaking rally in Berlin
TWIG - More than 250,000 cyclists Sunday rode through the streets of Germany’s capital city in what organizers said was the world’s largest demonstration of bike enthusiasts.
Demanding "respect for cyclists," riders from as far a field as New York, Moscow and London had more than 300 miles of Berlin streets to themselves as they navigated 16 different routes, including two stretches of Germany’s famous autobahn.
Amidst pleasant weather, attendance as this year’s event was more than double that of a similar demonstration last year.
Participants included everyone from bemused retirees to a hard core of spandex-clad bike messengers - and more than a few irate commuters who have rediscovered their two-wheelers as gas prices continue to soar.
Organizers said that the event would focus attention on "the still underestimated potential of the bicycle as an everyday means of transportation."
With miles of dedicated bike lanes, Berlin is among the most
cyclist-friendly cities in Europe, but cyclists say that car drivers still
have a lot to learn about sharing the road safely.
Republished with permission from "The Week in Germany"
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