1 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Ralf, 55, has lived in Berlin for 26 years
Ralf, 55, has lived in Berlin for 26 years
I really don’t think it’s reasonable that they want to raise the ticket prices every year from now. The outcome will only be more schwarzfahren from the young and poor, which is really counter-productive.
2 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Nina, 31, born and raised in Berlin
Nina, 31, born and raised in Berlin
For a while I had a Canadian student ID, so I would always show the controllers that, speaking English and acting like I didn’t understand them. I never got fined; they just politely asked me to get off at the next stop.
3 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Sidsel, 21, frequent Berlin visitor from Denmark
Sidsel, 21, frequent Berlin visitor from Denmark
Its gotten really expensive, really quickly. It is in Denmark as well, but at least you’re not as dependent on public transportation there. It’s also really annoying that you can’t go back and forth on the same ticket. What’s up with that?
4 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Karl-Heinz Koch, 73, in Berlin since 1966
Karl-Heinz Koch, 73, in Berlin since 1966
It’s always too expensive, but making it free is a bad idea as well. I usually say: all that’s free is also worthless – we would just see more vandalism and more trash lying around. People are simply more respectful when they have to pay.
5 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
“Gangsta”, 25, in Berlin for four years
“Gangsta”, 25, in Berlin for four years
The BVG is an organisation of thugs. They have no problem throwing homeless people looking for a warm place out in the freezing cold and the prices just keep on rising: €2.60 for a ticket is a lot of money when you’re broke, you know.
6 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Malin, 27, from Sweden, in Berlin since 2009
Malin, 27, from Sweden, in Berlin since 2009
The fine here is really low compared to Sweden, €40 is not that bad. In the long run you can actually save money by not paying for tickets – if you’re lucky enough to not get caught very often that is.
7 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Imke, 44, in Berlin on/off for 20 years
Imke, 44, in Berlin on/off for 20 years
Those who can afford to pay should help those who cannot. I really like the concept of the TicketTeilen campaign, everyone pitching in to make it better for everyone. It’s just a very Berliner thing to do, I think.
8 of 8
Photos by Veronika Jonsson
Kilian, 25, from Bonn, planning to move to Berlin
Kilian, 25, from Bonn, planning to move to Berlin
I don’t see a problem with the controllers being ‘undercover’. It’s more or less a game: if they’re smarter than you then you get busted – if not, good for you.
After Wladek Flakin vented his spleen about Berlin’s costly public transit system, we went into the streets to ask Berliners whether they agreed. Now it’s your turn: B-V-Great or B-V-Godawful? Let us know in the comments.
Comments (2)
Comment Feeda broken system
niamh o'donoghue - ireland more than 5 years ago
Mighty Whiteys
Fela Kuti more than 6 years ago