Glitter Illusions for Babies in Berlin Mitte

This bike stands in the not yet 'developed' Postfuhramt.  A beautiful 19th century post office that could house many horse-drawn postal wagons. Occasionally one can still hear the clip clop of (tourist) horse-drawn carriages on the cobbled streets of Mitte.

After 1989 a space-time of creativity arose. Bicycles were the dominant mode of transport in the area.

Once the old houses of the East where made trendy, people came from everywhere to live the life of a permanent party. The parties led to a lot of offspring and money flowed from the West to boost the project. With an influx of families and the associated capital the streets and footpaths were populated with inner city SUVs and family vans to cart the family and all its gear around the inner city. Many areas are like a big 24/7 creche now. A lot of cars are squeezing into the small streets and footpaths. The rest of the streetscape seems an endless row of child care, child speech therapist, child psychologist and child psychiatrist.

"Childhood" is a modern development: Philippe Ariès, Centuries of Childhood (1962)

Bikes for transportation - easy & fast velos

In Sydney, Manly families arrive with their SUVs, unpack the mostly dysfunctional bikes onto pedestrian paths and wonder why it is no fun to cycle. The other version of bike arrives (mostly) on top of the car. The mountain-bike riders are fully clad in plastic uniform, seeking a free gym.

All have in common that it is terribly un-chic to have a bike rack at the back or a basket at the front to carry any goods. People might think, they can not afford a car! That's what the suv is for, driven to the next mall/super-market it is filled with all the bulging plastic bags and driven home, around the corner to bland-burbia. There are many spare 'exercise-bikes' standing around in garages.

In Berlin it seemes normal to take the kids out on a velo-cycle. Do the shopping and carry loads on bikes. A lot of places/shops provide bike racks right in front of their businesses. Businesses deliver on cargo bikes. In Sydney they need a rocket to deliver a bit of dough wrapped in cardboard.

"Amazingly, only about 40 percent of Copenhageners own cars, even though this is the capital city of one of the richest countries in the world. Sure, vehicles are taxed heavily but the reason is simply because we have the infrastructure in place for bicycles and we have a rather good public transport system.
Even 50 percent of the citizens of Berlin do not own a vehicle, for the same reasons. Fifty eight percent of Copenhageners, when polled, say that they ride their bike because it is easy and fast. Only one percent say they do in order to help the environment." LA Times 0908 More on velo bikes there!

Images: Berlin Mitte velos