Sternfahrt Ride

Starting at Wannsea Station

Last weekend we joined around 90K other bicyclists and took to the roads around the city in the world's largest bike-rights demonstration. They close off many of the major roads through town, and even the Autobahn in places, to let cyclists take over for a few hours. The word "Sternfahrt" means Star Ride. The network of roads that were closed resemble a giant star overlaid on the map of Berlin.

We took the regional train out to Wannsea, a popular forest and lake destination halfway between Berlin and Potsdam, and rode back into town on the Autobahn. The kids managed 20 km (12 miles) - Jasper did even more as he and I went all the way back to the flat so he logged 15 miles. Cass and Cody took the train home at the end of the ride (long story).

I am continually befuddled by the political will here that lets these sorts of things happen. In a place whose bike lanes, driver awareness and bike adoption is already way ahead of many countries, they still go a step further and close down major highways and cross town arteries just so the cyclists can cruise around enjoying themselves.

As an American it felt slightly strange "demonstrating" for more bike rights since compared to the US, cyclists here really have NOTHING to complain about. When we mention this to Germans, they are incredulous that we think the work of assuring cyclist rights could ever be close to finished. But, this is why the systems are in place here that facilitate such a strong bike culture.

They for some reason have the will and the means to match up the public transport infrastructure that incorporates bikes, trains, busses, and green space in a way I cannot imagine happening in the States outside of tiny pockets where the stars are already perfectly aligned. It probably has to do with the onset of the car culture in the US in the 50's which spelled the end of the existing public transport infrastructure between and within cities.

Different places have different societal variables and motivations of those calling the shots of course, so the answer lies in those types of details.

But since this is how it works here, we decided to go all in and join the event and enjoy the ride!

Wannsea sits on the path of the old Berlin Wall, quite close to the "Spy Bridge" (Glienicker Brücke) where they exchanged Francis Gary Powers for a Russian agent.

Here is the Autobahn entrance ramp.

Biking on the Autobahn! Yea

I like to think our kids will remember things like this, since life doesn't constantly serve you up such opportunities on the regular basis that you get them here. But who knows what they will recall from these days.

Here is a video of the kids and their buds riding along the Autobahn. Click the image below for it:

And now we are back in town, where the roads are all still closed for us. Cass gives Cody a boost.

This was a few minutes before Cody crashed into Cassandra and took both of them down. Cody's front tire got bent. Skinned knees aside, we unfortunately were robbed of the opportunity to circle the massive Siegesäule monument at the ride's Finale as a family.  Next year! 

Jasper at the Queen Charlotte gates on the west side of Berlin.

Circling the monument at the end of the ride with our school friends.

Riding back through town afterwards and stopping outside the Schleusen Krug biergarten for a water break. So proud of this guy!