Berlin reports rise in fatalities as new bike lanes fail to keep cyclists safe | The Guardian
Campaigners demand more rules for lorries after initial hope pandemic would mean less traffic
Philip OltermannMon 24 Aug 2020 14.45 BST
A coronavirus-related drop in traffic and new protected bike lanes have failed to make Berlin’s roads safer for cyclists, as the German capital reports a four-year record in fatalities.
A woman run over by a right-turning articulated lorry in the district of Reinickendorf on Friday became Berlin’s 14th official cycling fatality of 2020 – more than twice as many as the six recorded in 2019.
The prospect of less congested roads due to more people working from home had initially spurred hopes that the global pandemic could permanently change the infrastructure of cities – and make them more friendly for those commuting by bike.
