Kultur 4 - Luc Hildebrand

While reading “Two-Wheeled Teutons: Stay Off the Bike Path!” I was not surprised to hear that most cities in Germany are filled with bike paths where the bikers have the right of way. It most big cities, especially in Europe, it is common to walk or bike, instead of driving your car. However if I ever go to Germany I will make sure to stay off of the bike paths because it sounds like the bikers there are ruthless! After reading “The Read Dictator: Crossing the Strasse” I can not believe how serious the Germans are when it comes to following the crossing lights. Here in Ann Arbor most people cross whenever they please, no matter if there is a red light, or even a car coming. Having to obey the traffic lights at all times would definitely be something that would take time to get used to. Everyone knows that the Germans are known for being very logical, however as the author in “Illogical Logic: The right Answer in Germany May Be the Wrong One” points out just because they are known for being logical, that doesn’t mean they apply the logic the same way we would in the United States. When talking about the difference between Germany’s and other countries subways, the author of “Fare-Dodgers Beware: There’s No Such Thing as a Free Ride” helps show a major difference between German and American culture. In America if the subway ran on the honor system, a lot of people would try to find any and every way possible to not get caught for not paying because a lot of people treat rules and laws more like guidelines, rather than a strict policy. However in Germany they treat these rules and laws as a strict policy to follow, so therefore everyone is much more likely to pay for their own ticket, even if it is run on an honor system.