8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Cycling in Germany ⚠️

[@schnaeutz4546]

Das Rad sollte man nie nur mit dem Vorderrad anschließen. Da kann ein Dieb einfach die beiden Radmuttern lockern, mit dem restlichen Rad verschwinden und Dir bleibt nur das angekettete Vorderrad.

[@RobWhittlestone]

I wanted to write exactly the same. NEVER lock your bike using JUST THE FRONT WHEEL. Thieves can STEAL THE REST OF THE BIKE and just leave the front wheel.

[@Gert-DK]

You really can't secure your bike, it is impossible. I live in Denmark, and as you might know, Denmark really is a bike nation. I think we have more bikes than inhabitants. One of my friends became a drug addict (functional) and to supplement he's income he became a "professional bike thief". He later told me about it. People ordered a specific type of bike from him, sometimes even a specific colour. Then he drove around in the city and found the bike. Took the needed tools from the car and the bike was he's. He said he never had a bike he couldn't steal. He told me the best way to secure your bike, was to take the value out of it. The "profs" will not waste time on a low value bike. So your daily driver, has to be an ugly and very recognizable bike. Have some fun with paint and stickers. Put on a lock, just so the guy that needs a bike here and now can't steal it. If it gets stolen anyway, it doesn't matter so much, as it was a low value bike. Here in DK you can easily find a second hand bike to 40€ or below. Fix it (DIY) for maybe 30 € and you will have a perfectly fine bike again. If you are in the city on your 5000€ bike, don't leave it unattended, just like you won't with your little child. Copenhagen is very much a bike city, like Amsterdam. Take a look at the bikes (lots of bicycling videos here on YT), all old second hand bikes, no fancy bikes here. Free tip: Use Schwalbe tires. You will never have a flat tire any more. They are more expensive, but it is nice to get rid of flat tires.

[@gerdpapenburg7050]

8:50 - I once had my bike secured the same way as you did in the video. When I got back all I found was the locked front wheel; the rest of the bike was gone ;-)

[@faisalmehmood9311]

Omg😂😂

[@martinkasper197]

You should add that helmets are recommended, but not obligatory...🤓

[@buzzb7848]

I'm living in Germany since 35 and have never seen someone doing the "hands down" or "hands up" signals. And I have never heard abour those either. Are you sure they exist outside of Düsseldorf?

[@lifeingermany_]

It’s a German-wide signal I believe! Though rarely used at all - I do find it very important to practice though! What do you do when slowing down and stopping? 🙃

[@buzzb7848]

@@lifeingermany_ Good to know. :) I always keep an eye on the traffic If it ist save to Stop. But I never had an issue with that.

[@karinland8533]

Never heard of them either, my kids didn’t lern them in their bike trainings

[@klarasee806]

I made such a "bycicle licence" in school over 40 years ago and later my kids made it, too, so I thought we learned all the rules, but I have never heard of “hands up” and “hands down” in this context. I wouldn’t understand these signs and I have never seen anyone making them. Do kids in Düsseldorf learn them in school?

[@christinehorsley]

About the hand signals … I was taught those by my parents when I first started riding my bike on the street, that must have been in the mid sixties. And similar hand signals - performed with the left hand only - I was shown in the „Fahrschule“ preparing for my (car) drivers license, in case the turn signals or such failed during driving. Yes, cars were simple back then and without electronics. Of course, only being able to hold the left arm out of the cars side window, a right hand turn was signaled by arm up 💪 PS: I’m far away from Düsseldorf 😉

[@bulgaria189]

Hi Jenna, we just moved to Germany from the US in September and settling in. We are in Ahrtal region, so just down the road from you. Thank you for the tips in this video. I already broke the rules the first day I rode... 😅😂. All the best! Prost 🍻

[@klaushoegerl1187]

3:49 and similar: you are allowed to cycle but you have to reduce your speed especially when approaching pedestrians 6:58 according to the STVZO each wheel must have two or more opposing (180 degrees in case of two) retro-reflectors. And all reflectors and lights have to be certified (recognizable if there is a number and a wavy line on it). Often imported bikes and bike parts are not according to the regulations.

[@MarcHollenbach]

Quite often, the insurance companies want just some locks that are about 10 to 15% of the value of the bike, so be prepared to spend a lot to fulfill your insurance contract. My mother had a bike of 2800 and had to buy two locks to match the request of the insurance. She ended up with about 600 Euros since she opted for light/compact but save options according to the insurance. So don't feel bad asking your insurance broker what exactly they expect you to do to make sure you do your part.

[@Benjamin_Jehne]

Hand up or down is unnecessary. Thats something you do, when you ride with a group of other cyclist to warn them. Thats a road cycling thing. An normal biker on the street doesn't do that. Your bike lock might be from ABUS, but this would be considert as a gift ribbon, as your lock is so easy to cut. It's like putting a bow on your bike. Thats not even 10 seconds to cut. The best way to prevent you bike from theft is, to get two types of locks with two different types of cylinders. And most simple tip, place it next to more expensive bikes with just one lock. ;)

[@FuchsHorst]

I understand the joy of an electric bike but people really miss about traditional biking, learning to shift gears, right pedal speed/cadence and bike control. E-bikes are ridding like mopeds, max support. Riders try to take over after lights turn green but then are angry when I, an obese with a 15 year old steel bike, is taking over at 28km/h.

[@joannunemaker6332]

This is a very useful video. Thank you! Rules, rules, rules!😊❤

[@lifeingermany_]

You are so welcome! 🥰💛

[@richardklein6644]

Great video - especially for people that may be "new", living in Germany. I am German (born and still living - except 1yr. i've been in AB) but honestly i never saw anyone using the signals for "getting slower" or "going to stop". I didn't know they exist. Maybe it's a Düsseldorf kinda local thing?!? But besides do what the other comments already told .... don't put a lock only on/at the front wheel. Makes it easy to steal the rest. Keep on goning to make such videos. Thanx and have a good one.

[@reinhard8053]

For my bicycle insurance I needed a lock which cost at least €50 (you need to provide a bill for that or state the model). We also had a bike registration which included an engraved number at the frame.

[@lifeingermany_]

Great idea!!! I actually bought my ABUS lock off of Amazon so I knew I’d never lose the bill 😂 (love how creepy it is that Amazon saves all history of previous purchases - because it helps my scattered brain)

[@larrywarns4444]

Fantastic info. !!!

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks so much 🥰

[@schmidtchristian1401]

Hihi ich dachte wir deutschen reden😂 hi schnell. . Aber mega Video.❤ . Noch ein schönes Wochenende. Und das Fahrrad ist mega

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahah 🤫😂 Danke ich hoffe du hattest auch einen schönes Wochenende!!

[@mogon721]

Nice video! But regarding bike lanes, actually, the color of the pavement doesn't matter. Only the blue signs you show at 4:12 ff. define a bike lane. Often, like in my city, there are many red strips on the pedestrian ways which look like bike lanes and probably once were intended as bike lanes, often even with the red colored markings on the road where they cross a street, but they are too narrow or otherwise don't fulfill the legal requirements. So the administration removed the street signs marking them as bike lanes out of liability reasons. And without the signs, they are simply just pedestrian ways and you are not allowed to use them, and you must ride on the street. Of course, there are enough stupid drivers who will honk at you, because they slept through their lessons in driving school and yell at you to ride on the "bike lane". Naturally, many cyclists, too, don't know this and will be using the fake bike lanes. The town silently accepts this, because they are happy if they don't have to put money in bike infrastructure, but if an accident happens, it gets complicated. Aside from that, the problem with pedelecs is that many people who would never be riding a bike at all, or people who would be much slower without them, are now going 25 km/h anywhere just because they can, but they often don't have the experience they would need to ride their bikes safely. On said fake bike lanes from above, or even normal shared bike lanes (the ones with the blue signs with bikes and pedestrians on them), this is really dangerous, and the numbers of accidents with ebikes have risen overproportionally over the last ten years. Unfortunately, this may lead to more regulations, even to the need to have a license for normal pedelecs. For somebody who does both, riding a road bike (in recent years even a self-converted foldable) for sport AND a pedelec (well, more than one, and self-built ;-) ), and who has always had to explain to the self-righteous road bike fetishists who have never sat on a pedelec that you can ride a pedelec just as much for training as you can ride it lazy, this overregulation which is necessary because so many people can't use their common sense, is a real pain in the behind... By the way, enjoy the spark under your bottom ;-) , but also keep your batteries safe. Lithium batteries really need to be treated well. Did you know there are fire safes for ebike batteries? Always worth a consideration. They start from 200-400, depending on the type and safety class, but what's that compared to a house burning down... Take care!

[@Why-D]

Kids in 3rd or 4th grade are about 10 years old, and as children then have to drive on the road, they should know, how to do correctly. Most important in the cycling strett "Fahrradstraße", the maximum speed is 30. So watch out, if you drive with a car in that street, don't speed!

[@fafreesebike]

Wow! Love it!!🤩

[@Karl-HeinzHaas]

Und wohin fährst du ? Schloß Benrath, UrdenbacherKämpe, zur Pfalz nach Kaiserwert oder zum japanischen Tempel in Niederkassel ? Gruß aus Volmerswerth

[@lifeingermany_]

Überall hin 🥰😛 aber in diesem Video fahre ich einfach durch Himmelgeist 🙃

[@amduser86]

just some additonal information. bike theft does not depend on the value of the bike in germany. even cheap bikes get stolen quite often. in fact it depends more on were you park the bike, than on what kind of bike it is. combination locks are useless. every combination lock can be cracked within a certain amount of time. also only the turning signals for left and right are relevant for biking. the hands up and down signals are for riding in a group and nobody knows those at all. p.s. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJixc42EepaDjbs

[@butenbremer1965]

When you've successfully mastered the German "r" in all of its variations , every more or less hidden "Schwa" sounds, and, almost most importantly, the "Glottisschlag" (Glottic Stroke) as in the word "Rührei", you MUST be considered a native German speaker by any means. Unglaublich, wie akzentfrei und zurecht selbstbewusst Du mittlerweile diese Sprache "frei von der Leber" sprichst! Anyhow, I'll be keeping on practicing my all rusted in English skills on you, poorest but utmostly beloved Jenna - I'm a truly selfish and ruthless German nonetheless..... 🥰😍🙄❤❤❤

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahahaha you’re so sweet 🥰💛 thank you for always encouraging me and bringing my mood in good spirits! You’re amazing!

[@markalexander71332]

You can ride your bike on the other side of the pedestrian road. If you know what I mean.

[@markalexander71332]

And , actually you need a mirror. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@charliebecker9391]

Excellent, very informative video. How much did your Bike cost?,

[@lifeingermany_]

This model is 950€ 💛

[@charliebecker9391]

Great Price. Best Wishes .LG😊

[@gentvvlogs2991]

Where did you buy it?❤

[@olli1068]

"It's not really laws, it's more recomendations" (Pirates of the Canadian)

[@klarasee806]

Not only will you get yelled at when cycling in a pedestrian zone, you can even get fined. I got fined twice, because the shortest way to my school was through the pedestrian zone back then, so when we were in a hurry, we sometimes risked it 😅 Unfortunately the police knew about it, so they controlled this area quite often. Getting fined only twice actually meant that I was quite well behaved 😇

[@wallerwolf6930]

Nice educational video for non-Germans, thank you! I wouldn't buy an e-bike if I lived in a big city. Not even to go shopping, for example, even if a car would be even less suitable (reasonable). The e-bikes are more practical on flat land if you want to get a bit more sporty with them. Especially if you want to travel long distances. In principle, we only have our bikes (trekking bikes) for keeping fit in the fresh air and less for getting things done without a car. So for us it is purely a leisure device and e-bikes are less suitable for that, especially in urban areas where there are not always good cycle paths. They are much less flexible, much heavier and more cumbersome than normal bikes and less suitable for fitness unless you race them (in the country ;-))! You can hardly drive them out in the city without increasing risk. For me, e-bikes are only for really old people ;-)) who want (need) to be a little more comfortable and I'm always amazed at how many young people ride them. For example, if you drive to work in order to leave your car at home, you are at least doing something for the environment. But which e-biker does that?! Wish you and your family good luck and be careful where you ride your bikes in the city. Even I, who basically grew up with bikes (in the country), rarely dare go into the city by bike because it would be too dangerous for me.

[@DE-iv8if]

05:33 Actually I think they changed that to even €100... Edit: If somethings happens because of that, (e.g. an Accident) it is up to €100.

[@arnodobler1096]

First! Nice Sunday for all

[@lifeingermany_]

🥰💛

[@tasminoben686]

Mist, wieder zu spät! Du weißt ja, Arno… Der Bus…😢

[@arnodobler1096]

@@tasminoben686 ÖPNV 😭🤣

[@jennyh4025]

When your child is younger than eight you can use your bike on the sidewalk with them.

[@lifeingermany_]

Very true! I didn’t want to mention this because I’ve often gotten sour looks from people and ignorant comments when doing this. I want to refrain from this happening to newcomers to Germany. 💛 Also, the law used to be that adults couldn’t ride on the sidewalk regardless of the situation… so many people don’t even know about the law change yet 😣 Great point to mention! Thanks 🤩

[@jennyh4025]

@@lifeingermany_ I learned that when I had a child and never commented on it before, because it’s quite logical to have a parent on the sidewalk with a new cyclist to see them and correct them on their form and rule following. Definitely a German mom here. 😂

[@dieteroffermann3880]

The "Bikelicense" for children is all over NRW. The last years the most cycelists don´t follow the rules!!! Cause they think they can drive were they want!!!

[@karinland8533]

Bavaria does the Fahrradführerschein for kids as as well

[@__________5344]

So much talk before the content

[@rashomon351]

you'll know you're really becoming german when you're starting to realize which rules not to follow. The only people in Germany following bike rules are those kids just out of bike training. Sure, you'll get yelled at for not sticking to those rules by car drivers not paying attention and old women. But that's what your middle finger is for.

[@eisikater1584]

I drive a car and I have my own opinion about traffic rules for cyclists. They are different in many ways: - You can cross a red light whenever you want. - In a one way street, you can freely choose your direction. - Car drivers must keep a 1.50m sidewards safety distance from you, you can choose your distance. - Pedestrian strips and sidewalks are free for bikers to ride on. - Same applies to pedestrian zones. - Even if you ride a race bike, speed limits don't apply to you, especially not near schools, kindergartens, and playgrounds. - You don't need lighting at night, that's a luxury. - Car drivers can read your thoughts, so there's no need for direction signalling. - Using a pedestrian crossing with your bike at high speed is perfectly legal and safe. - Helmets are for decoration purposes only, no need to tighten them to your head. - Biking home from the pub at 4 a.m. drunk as a skunk using all available lanes is perfectly safe. - There are no parking rules for bikes or e-scooters, just leave them where you like. And finally, I want to leave you with the Berlin rule of bike theft. It's mathematical and thus a natural law you cannot change: "In a city with n bike riders, there are always (n-1) bicycles."

[@renerieche6862]

Kurz gesagt, Dumm,Saudumm,Radfahrer 😂

[@lifeingermany_]

😂💛 as someone who rides a bike more often than drives… I’m totally with you! Sometimes it boggles my mind how ridiculous people can be!

[@minervaminerva7906]

Well said!

[@henryheinrich6581]

😇👍👍👍👍👍🙏

[@franklange1363]

Soll ich euch mal erzählen, wie du betrunken am besten nach hause kommst!! Du musst dafür auf ein Pferd reiten. der gesetzgeber sagt das Pferd hat einen eigenen Kopf und du bist nur passagier

[@tasminoben686]

U. Spannst du einen Hund vor einen Bollerwagen, darfst du die Straße benutzen. Weil es dann ein Gespann ist!😅

[@petebeatminister]

Oder mit einem Taxi, das ist billiger... :)

[@schmidtchristian1401]

Und den 👍 daumen hoch. Sie macht so super Videos. Abonnieren ❤❤❤❤❤ . Und tschüss

[@lifeingermany_]

Aww vielen lieben Dank 🥰 wirklich!

[@johnveerkamp1501]

they are now bikes ,they are terrible dangerous bikes. I buy a normal bike ]