Berlin traffic accident statistics

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Less accidents, more people dead. That’s the shocking news from the Statistical Office for Berlin-Brandenburg (“Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg”).

During the first eight months of this year 34 people got killed in traffic accidents across the city. In 2013 there were ‘only’ 26 people killed during the same time period. That is more than 4 dead per month – or more than one per week – and means an increase of over 30 percent, compared to 2013.

What the statistics don’t tell us is who – or how people got killed. But it is pretty obvious, that most of the people killed were either bicyclists, or pedestrians. If you want to dig deeper there is another statistic – soley about bicycle accidents – at ->
berlin.de/polizei/aufgaben/verkehrssicherheit/verkehrsunfallstatistik/#radfahrer

So pease (PLEASE!) be careful, when riding your bike across Berlin city – or even when crossing the street. You may be on holiday, and the city may feel safe – but there is actually a lot of sh–t happening. Please try to avoid dangerous situations.
See also: Berlin by Bike

The full statistic report about this years deadly accidentscan be found here  ->
statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/pms/2014/14-10-27a.pdf

This blog post was inspired by this german article at tagesspiegel.de ->
tagesspiegel.de/berlin/unfallstatistik-fuer-berlin-86000-unfaelle-auf-berlins-strassen/…

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Airport Tegel anniversary

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40 years ago Berlin’s futuristic design airport Tegel “Otto Liliental” opened to the public. A revolutionary concept: short distances, maximum comfort for the traveller – cutting edge design.

The airport is built on the concept of triangles and hexagons – following nature’s rules of triangles representing the most efficient connection of three points. From roof to floor – the whole building was built on this repeating pattern, making it a design icon of its time. A space ship of an airport.

Airport Tegel Berlin plane take-off

Airport Tegel Berlin plane take-off

In cold war days Tegel Airport along with Tempelhof Airport was probably the most important connection of West-Berlin to… the rest of the West. In only ninety days the runway was built, connecting West-Berlin with West-Germany – and Great Britain, France, and the United States.

The wall came down, the two Germanys became one – Tegel suddenly became ‘too expesive’ and its closure was decided. A deal was made: a ‘central’ airport should be built outside Berlin under the condition, that all (two) inner city airports would be closed. But: the new airport still isn’t ready yet – Tegel is still in operation.

Happy Anniversary Tegel! Keep on operating! At least another 40 years!

Design Airport Tegel Berlin

Please feel free to look at some photos of Airport Berlin Tegel TXL at bilderbook ->
www.bilderbook.de/berlin/flughafen-tegel/

Berlin’s new major elected: Michael Müller

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Last weekend the members of Berlin’s co-ruling party SPD (social democrats) elected Michael Müller as follower of Klaus Wowereit.

Wowereit had announced his resignation already in august 2014, leaving the question of who might follow completely unanswered. Three candidated were in the race, Michael Müller won with a majority of almost 60%.

Müller is well known in the political ‘szene’ of Berlin: beeing Berlin’s developement senator (beeing responsible for the city’s urban development and environment) he led the controversial project /debate around the future of the ‘great plain’ belonging to Berlin’s now closed airport Tempelhof.

please feel free to read on at TheLocal ->
www.thelocal.de/20141018/michael-mueller-elected-berlins-new-mayor

Berlin S-Bahn on strike (again)

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Update: blog entry about the currently ongoing S-Bahn strike (Novermber 2014)

The german train drivers’ union (GDL) just decided: train drivers will be on strike over the weekend for about 50 hours. And since Berlin’s S-Bahn is part of Germany’s rail company Deutsche Bahn this means that also Berlin’s S-Bahn train drivers will be on strike over the weekend.

Here’s some details: from tonight / Saturday morning 2 a.m. until sunday night / monday morning 4 a.m. “no” S-Bahn will be in service. I put the “no” in quotation marks because the past has shown that sometimes there actually still are some trains in service.

However – if you depend on getting from A to B this weekend, you better not rely on Berlin’s S-Bahn service – instead you better check alternatives how to travel across Berlin city this weekend.

The good news is: all U-Bahn and Trams and Busses will be in service on the regular basis. So on the one hand you still will be able to use public transport, on the other hand I have the slight suspicion that you’ll not be alone. Trams, busses and U-Bahns might be packed this weekend.

S-Bahn Berlin
Two S-Bahn trains parked during the S-Bahn strike 2007, one train moving – near Gesundbrunnen between Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte

What I really find a bit strange, even disturbing, is that there seems to be absolutely no information about the strike on the english edition of the Berlin S-Bahn’s website – nor or the english edition of the ‘mother house’ Deutsche Bahn. Also the english edition of the homepage of the city of Berlin seems to provide no information about the strike – and also the english edition of Berlins public transport service BVG says nothing about the strike or alternative routes. Wow.

Further reading on the 50-hour-strike can be found at The Local:
www.thelocal.de/20141018/rail-strike-cripples-german-train-users

Update: blog entry about the current S-Bahn strike (Novermber 2014)

Well… Have a nice wekkend!

10 Berlin News & Stories / Press Review Week 36

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What are international news websites, magazines and newspapers writing about Berlin? Here is a list of ten Berlin related news articles from around the world:

As Rents Rise, Can Berlin Artists Still Afford a Place to Work?

artnet News, September 1
“Berlin lost yet another building of studios last month. For the past 15
years, the Atelierhaus Prenzlauer Promenade had offered up 3,000 square …”

Modest, inner-city Games concept for Berlin, Hamburg

Reuters UK
“The Games are a sports fest for Berlin and the whole world. Not in an
isolated Olympic quarter but in the very heart of the city,” Berlin

Berlin Brandenburg International Airport – Still no news of when Berlin’s new gateway will open

eTurboNews, September 1
“BERLIN, Germany – There are still no news of when Brandenburg International, Berlin’s new gateway, will open. It was originally planned for 2010.”

Berlin Erects Monument for WWII Euthanasia Victims

artnet News, September 3
“A wall of blue glass has been erected in Berlin as a monument in remembrance of the disabled individuals who were euthanized during the Third …”

Palestinian-born German hopes to be next mayor of Berlin

The Times of Israel, September 2
“After unpopular incumbent Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit announced his resignation Tuesday, Berlin’s new hope may lay in Palestinian immigrant …”

Berlin Music Week celebrates newcomer artists

Deutsche Welle, September 3
“Up-and-coming music stars are performing on the streets of the German capital. Berlin Music Week hopes to draw music lovers and industry insiders …”

In Berlin, it’s a whole new city, but the Wall’s traces remain

Washington Post, by Zofia Smardz, September 4
“It’s taking forever to get to my friend Tony’s apartment. It’s been 25 minutes at least since we got on the U-Bahn in Berlin’s Mitte district, and still the …”

Tourism boom annoys some Berlin residents

Canada.comt, September 4, by Stefan Nicola
“A young woman looks down at central Berlin from the broadcast tower at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Germany. Alexanderplatz, a crossing point of …”

World Jewish Congress to meet in Berlin in wake of growing anti-Semitism

World Jewish Congress, September 4
“The participants will also take part in the rally against anti-Semitism organized by the Central Council of Jews in Germany in front of Berlin’s iconic …”

Berlin Beats Rome as Tourist Attraction as Hordes Descend

Bloomberg, September 4
“Wieland Giebel’s stores near the Brandenburg Gate that sell Berlin Wall pieces for less than $10, miniature Trabant cars and 3,000 books about the …“

Kreuzberg music club SO36 celebrates 36 year anniversary

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One of Berlin’s night life highlights turns 36 – and since the number 36 plays an important role in the club’s history, there will be a great party week celebrating this 36 year anniversary.

Named after the back then wild wild East part of Kreuzberg (postal code Südost 36 (South East) or short SO36) it kept rocking all ups and downs a club can rock: punk gigs, riots, roller disco, , bingo – SO36 has seen it all.

As a Berlin based music lover I have enjoyed many many gigs here – and as a musician I very much enjoyed playing here as well. I have to say  the backstage never really earned the attribute ‘comfort zone’ – always too hot (in a good and bad way) and never enough air – just to mentions two details… But who needs to rest backstage when you can party on the dance floor anyways? For me the SO36 also always was a venue where you could be close – or at least feel close: close to the stage, close to the stars, close to the people you’re close with. I just hope, the SO36 will never have to close. Have (at least) another swell 36 years!

Couple years ago the venue was actually close to closing – but support by bands and fans finally enabled the venue affording an anti-noise wall so the neu-Kreuzbergers could dream their little dreams, while the SO36 could keep on rocking…

SO36 Kreuzberg Party

SO36 birthday party – dance floor

The birthday week fest event schedule:
14.08. 35 years of EA80 – 36 years of SO36
15.08. Dancing with Tears in Your Eyes “SO36 Special”
16.08. 36 years SO36 – The Gala (Queershow, Live Act Eat Lipstick, DJs, Party …)
17.08. Café Fatal (Dance * Ballroom * Disco)
18.08. ROLLERDISCO
20.08. Night Flea Market // Nachtflohmarkt
21.08. Vika Goes Wild
22.08. Core Tex Fest Hardcore Day CANCELLED

SO36 stage (berlin, Kreuzberg)

a gig at SO36 / view from backstage, 1999 (archive)

Visit the venue’s homepage: http://www.so36.de/
Learn more about legendary venue SO36: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SO36

PS: I think I don’t have to mention any silly comparisons with New York’s CBGBs, or underline the importance for the Berlin music scene / punk scene / cultural scene, or point out, that “The S.O.” is (and always was) one one the most liberal, queer friendly, anti-racist, open minded, dank-but-colorful surroundings ever, or even start name dropping (Kippenberger, Terrorgruppe, Einstürzende Neubauten, Dead Kennedys) because you can find out all of this yourselves :P

Half Bread Half Butter

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The fashion tradeshow for selected brands known as Bread and Butter was in the news today – for half a reason: in the future the tradeshow will visit Berlin only once a year, instead of twice.

I must say I don’t even know what’s all the fuzz about? Already years ago I would have suggested exactly this – but of course nobody eery asked me about this matter. I anyways never understood why you would have to have a tradeshow twice a year – in the same spot. Ok – it’s fashion – but is it really a that big thing?

And then there is Berlin winter. The Berlin weather conditions around the beginning of the year would be reason enough to not have the tradeshow around that time of the year: cold, dark, windy – and probably either muddy, dirty or ‘just’ wet. Not really the nicest surroundings, especially if you compare it to Barcelona.

So now we will have Bread and Butter in Berlin in summer – which is nice. And Bread and Butter in Barcelona in winter – which probably also is quite nice. And former airport Tempelhof will also in the future host the event. Which is also nice.

Bread & Butter Berlin Airport Tempelhof

© breadandbutter.com / Marco Magnago