Welch Whirl

Lesson #4 Own a bike in Frankfurt.





Everyone or nearly everyone, (because I don’t have a bike) owns a bike. Most are not fancy but all of them have baskets on them. The great thing is bikes are allowed on the street cars (similar to the cable cars in San Fran), busses, subways and there is always a bike rack near by. People with children have kids seats attached to the back or front of the bike and many have bike trailers for their kids. Every street in the entire town as a dedicated bike lane and if it isn’t in the street then part of the side walk is dedicated to bike riders. I should also mention that most bikes also have a little ringer on them, are equipped to ride at night with lights and reflectors, and all children have to wear protective head gear.

What is cute is that on any given day, I see tons of business men wearing suits on their way to work with a briefcase or satchel in the basket on their bikes. Women in dress suits with a flat of flowers in their baskets, couples on a date with the girl in stiletto heals and skirt. Also, age doesn’t matter. Old and young ride bikes here. Boy do I wish I had a bike.