No, it’s mostly corruption. The car industry -read: not the actual car producers but all the smaller companies in the supply chain producing ICE-only parts and components- is lobbying hard to keep their business model heading into a dead-end alive a bit longer.
Also -like everywhere else- culture war distractions have replaced discussions about actual policies and “EVs vs. actually working real cars” and “those ideologically damaged bikers want to ban our cars” are a very welcome new fronts.
In reality there is wide-spread support for better bike (and public transport) infrastructure. But the same people buying politicians also amplify the voices of those lost in that stupid culture war. And so in reality more demolition of bike infrastructure (or fake programs like spending money to convert a street into a bike way… but one that is bordering parking spots left and right for 100% dooring zones and allowed to be used by cars that ignore the speed limit with full support of the authorities) are as common as actual improvements.
Same story for speed limits… polls about public opinion show the complete opposite of policies and narratives loudly pushed.
And a lot of this is further complicated by federalism. So you get some municipals that improve bike and public transport infrastructure. But the majority and the federal level are redicilously stubborn in trying to keep cars, and combustion engines in particular, relevant despite any logic or public opinion. And as always there is a certain amount of people who eat that shit up of course.
But hey… you can then take all the money you save by not building bike paths and train tracks and spend it on some scams… Like nearly 300 million for BMW for the development of hydrogen-based cars just a few days ago. Or “just one more lane” of Autobahn in Berlin. Or millions for the fantasy of synthetic fuels, available any day now, so that the people -the real ones, not those stupid green idiots hating cars!- can keep having fun with their ancient car and its calming clatter and lovely smelling exhausts…
PS: Speaking of German engineers… they invented, produced (and often still do) a lot of other stuff, too.
The internal gear shift stuff on bicycles that was standard for many decades was invented by a German company. But if it doesn’t weigh a ton and doesn’t make loud motor noises it’s politically not welcome and so that part was sold to SRAM while the remains of the company produces motorcycles and ATVs now.
Modern trains developed and produced in Germany are well selling outside of Germany while our train infrastructure is decaying.
Even a lot of electric battery and motor tech (no matter if it’s scooters, ebikes or electric cars) is still originating in Germany, yet never used here because they would have to fight a constant barrage of narratives that fight everything else but classic(*) cars and car-centric infrastructure.
(*): car ads now give you the choice between “electric” or “reliable classic” motorisation… I often feel a compulsion to puke onto my radio nowadays.
In short: No. Germans are on the low-end off ‘nationalistic-pride’ anyway and could find many alternatives also developed (or even build) in Germany. It’s purely massive amounts of messaging and lobbyism by companies working in soon-to-be obsolute fields (as well as the usual suspects pushing fossil fuels of course…).
France doesn’t fuck around with bike infrastructure IMO. It’s really getting better and better, I see way more bikes on the road too.
Cities are getting and better yes!
Rural areas are still rough in my experience… My 10km ride to the train station doesn’t have any bike infrastructure
if you too had neighbours like Belgium and Netherlands, you too would finally stop fucking around.
*laughs in German terminal car-brain*
Is it a nationalistic pride thing over there? Some German engineer needs to invent a superior bicycle so they can feel ownership or something.
No, it’s mostly corruption. The car industry -read: not the actual car producers but all the smaller companies in the supply chain producing ICE-only parts and components- is lobbying hard to keep their business model heading into a dead-end alive a bit longer.
Also -like everywhere else- culture war distractions have replaced discussions about actual policies and “EVs vs. actually working real cars” and “those ideologically damaged bikers want to ban our cars” are a very welcome new fronts.
In reality there is wide-spread support for better bike (and public transport) infrastructure. But the same people buying politicians also amplify the voices of those lost in that stupid culture war. And so in reality more demolition of bike infrastructure (or fake programs like spending money to convert a street into a bike way… but one that is bordering parking spots left and right for 100% dooring zones and allowed to be used by cars that ignore the speed limit with full support of the authorities) are as common as actual improvements.
Same story for speed limits… polls about public opinion show the complete opposite of policies and narratives loudly pushed.
And a lot of this is further complicated by federalism. So you get some municipals that improve bike and public transport infrastructure. But the majority and the federal level are redicilously stubborn in trying to keep cars, and combustion engines in particular, relevant despite any logic or public opinion. And as always there is a certain amount of people who eat that shit up of course.
But hey… you can then take all the money you save by not building bike paths and train tracks and spend it on some scams… Like nearly 300 million for BMW for the development of hydrogen-based cars just a few days ago. Or “just one more lane” of Autobahn in Berlin. Or millions for the fantasy of synthetic fuels, available any day now, so that the people -the real ones, not those stupid green idiots hating cars!- can keep having fun with their ancient car and its calming clatter and lovely smelling exhausts…
PS: Speaking of German engineers… they invented, produced (and often still do) a lot of other stuff, too.
The internal gear shift stuff on bicycles that was standard for many decades was invented by a German company. But if it doesn’t weigh a ton and doesn’t make loud motor noises it’s politically not welcome and so that part was sold to SRAM while the remains of the company produces motorcycles and ATVs now.
Modern trains developed and produced in Germany are well selling outside of Germany while our train infrastructure is decaying.
Even a lot of electric battery and motor tech (no matter if it’s scooters, ebikes or electric cars) is still originating in Germany, yet never used here because they would have to fight a constant barrage of narratives that fight everything else but classic(*) cars and car-centric infrastructure.
(*): car ads now give you the choice between “electric” or “reliable classic” motorisation… I often feel a compulsion to puke onto my radio nowadays.
In short: No. Germans are on the low-end off ‘nationalistic-pride’ anyway and could find many alternatives also developed (or even build) in Germany. It’s purely massive amounts of messaging and lobbyism by companies working in soon-to-be obsolute fields (as well as the usual suspects pushing fossil fuels of course…).
Just need BMW to make one without blinkers and with a huge nostril shape grill at the front.