Bicycling Like A German

    I never dreamed that I, a 17-year-old junior at Ashwaubenon High School in Green Bay, would wake up one morning in Frankenthal, Germany. Yet because of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) at my school, 23 other Ashwaubenon students and I were living with host families in Germany for three weeks in June.

    Of course, there are many differences between the United States and Germany. Besides the Wiener schnitzel, one that really stands out is the bicycling. Germany is a bicyclist’s nirvana. To illustrate, I will describe a typical day with my German partner.

    8:00 a.m.
Time for school! Jasmin, my 16-year-old partner, leads me to the front of her apartment, where a long row of bikes wait for their owners. Jasmin’s bikes and mine are locked together. Jasmin’s mother has already biked off to work. We turn onto the road and head to school. Soon we pull onto the sidewalk. On one side all the bricks are dark gray, and on the other half the bricks are light-colored.

    Seeing me staring, Jasmin explains, "The dark side is for bikes, and the light side is for walkers. How do you call them…pedestrns?"

    "Pedestrians," I corrected with a smile. That smile isn’t just because of her mistake; I’m still staring at a two-lane sidewalk. Cool!

    Near the school we approach our first intersection. Jasmin keeps pedaling right through the cars’ right-turn lane. I notice the lane’s white stripes and soon learn they give bikers and pedestrians unconditional right-of-way. It feels really safe! We move to the heart of the intersection, joining about six other cyclists. We all go when the little bike symbol on the traffic light turns green.

    Jasmin and I arrive at school, where I’m greeted by another surprise. Right behind the school is a bike shelter, a huge pavilion with about 20 rows of bike racks that are protected from the rain and wind with a sturdy roof. Out of this world! Apparently, almost everyone in Frankenthal rides a bike to school.

    In Ashwaubenon, the high school provides only a few small bike racks, commonly known as "freshman parking." Freshmen, who usually don’t have drivers licenses, comprise the few who commute by bike.

    1:10 p.m.
School’s out! Jasmin and I head to the bike shelter. Jasmin says we have to make a quick stop at the grocery before going home. Even more amazing than the great number of bikers of all ages we passed on the way to the store, is the great number of bikes parked outside the store. Bicycling is obviously the best way to shop in Germany. And why not? All of the bikes have baskets and straps to hold the goodies. Amazing.

    After we pick up our food, we ride back to Jasmin’s by way of a picturesque, tree-lined bike path that ran along the outskirts of town. It is lovely I can’t stop taking pictures.

    8:30 p.m.
Jasmin says to get ready; we were biking to a festival in a nearby town. I can’t imagine biking to another town at dust, but it ends up being surprisingly safe and easy. Our bikes were equipped with both a headlight (for great night vision) and a bell (to warn bikers and walkers as we pass). The route is a well-lit bike path alongside the autobahn, Germany’s highway system. We arrive in 15 minutes!

    What a sight when we arrive ­ greeted by hundreds of bikes parked in a mammoth "bike lot". I don’t think I have ever seen so many bikes in my life, not even in a bike shop! I get out the camera, of course.

    11:30 p.m.
We bike home, lock our bikes with the convenient key locks attached to the back wheel, and go to bed. Jasmin tells me that tomorrow we will take the two hour "scenic route" to her grandparents’ fruit orchard. Sounds great, but at the moment I feel like doing nothing but sleeping and dreaming of my wonderful day biking in Germany.

    Melissa C. Nash is a senior at Ashwaubenon High School.