#396: Beeping bikes, in-town wind power, Reichstag re-wrap, pod #014
Politicians might decide to ban fireworks this week.
Hey 20 Percent,
It’s early summer and New Year’s Eve couldn’t be further from my mind but an email from the GdP police union brought the topic of fireworks madness back into focus.
I used to be bit of a fireworks ultra to be honest but the chaos last Silvester changed my mind. That guy that shot a rocket into a flat, for one. And just the obvious harm to health, safety, pets and wildlife. It reached a tipping point for me.
The mood across Germany is changing too. Two million people signed a petition (you can still add your name) initiated by the GdP in favour of a ban on individuals buying and using fireworks.
A survey of 178,000 people performed by the union found that 97% supported a ban on letting off fireworks; 93% supported a ban on the sale of fireworks — the 4 percentage points between those two stats is a mystery, but this suggests widespread support for an end to the war-like conditions we have to endure every NYE.
On Wednesday, GdP writes, the interior ministers of the 16 German states meet to discuss a number of issues and a fireworks ban could be on the agenda. The cop union is urging people to email the ministers their opinion on the issue. 🤞Feel free to use your favourite translation app and shoot those guys a message.
More news below!
Maurice
🎙️🎙️🎙️Meanwhile, episode #014 of the 20% Berlin Podcast is out 🎙️🎙️🎙️
🍺And, get your tickets for The Next 20% Summer Pod Party on July 17, our event with fellow newsletter The Next Day Berlin.
Beeping bikes
About two years after Lime Bike unlocking hit London, Berlin kids have taken up the hobby thanks to Tik Tok. The sound of summer 2025 is beeping, cracked Limes. Various hacks — such as running forward with the back wheel off the ground — make it possible to ride the e-bikes for free (without activating the electric motor). Downside: The bikes’ alarms beep the whole time. It’s pretty wild that the company hasn’t solved this problem yet. 20% Berlin co-founder Andrew, who spends way too much time on Tik Tok, attempted to crack a Lime, to little avail.
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8 wind turbines for Berlin?
Under a 2023 federal law meant to boost the production of renewable energy, the city-state of Berlin must dedicate 0.25% of its surface area to wind energy by 2027 and 0.5% by 2032. This translates to 8 huge (150-200m high) wind turbines. Earlier this month the city proposed eight locations within the city limits. In line with German transparency rules, citizens are encouraged to submit their input about the locations by July 11.
House of Games!
The Berlin administration launched House of Games Tuesday — a hub that’s supposed to foster the gaming industry. When I heard about this the image of Germans playing Settlers of Catan popped into my head — but no, House of Games will house Ubisoft, the French makers of Assassin’s Creed, office space for indie studios and a co-working space for freelancers. Berlin has ploughed more than €4 million into the project located at Lux House (“heritage meets happy”), a former light bulb factory near Warschauer Brücke.
🍺 🥨 Germany-wide news 🥨 🍺
👴 Friedrich Merz's Visit to Trump Succeeded Because It Didn't Fail
😢 Man drives into crowd in Passau
🏗️ Germany’s plan to build bunkers
🏠 Two weeks free rent in Eisenhüttenstadt
Events this week, curated by The Next Day Berlin
🎞️ Dokumentale – Berlin’s Festival for Documentary & Media
Thursday, 12.06 – Sunday, 22.06. Various venues across Berlin. Tickets: day pass from €20
From urgent issues to intimate stories: Dokumentale brings films, talks, podcasts, readings, and VR to cinemas, clubs, and public spaces. Ten days of non-fiction in motion — with space to listen, reflect, and connect beyond the screen.
🪩 Berlin Beats: alys(alys)alys b2b STILL
Thursday, 13.06, 7 pm – 10 pm. Hamburger Bahnhof, Invalidenstraße 50–51. Free admission
One of the city’s most popular summer series kicks off this Thursday in the museum garden. alys(alys)alys and STILL go B2B for the first Berlin Beats of the season.
🖼️ Affordable Art Fair Berlin 2025
Opening: Thursday, 12.06, 6 - 10 pm. Fri-Sun, 13–15.06 - various times. Arena Berlin, Eichenstr. 4. Tickets: €11–25
Over 60 galleries bring thousands of contemporary artworks (from €100 to €10,000) under one roof. Wait for fresh discoveries and a chance to start your collection.
🎹 DRIFT Kyiv
Friday, 13.06, 8 pm – 2 am. Kwia, Maybachufer 16. Tickets: €12 at the door
A slow and immersive evening with Buttechno, Soyklo, OLHA and Social Vlad. DRIFT Kyiv brings their deep-listening atmosphere to Berlin’s coziest sonic nook.
🌹 Rosegarden Funeral Party
Saturday, 14.06, doors 8 pm, show 9 pm. Urban Spree, Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin. Ticket: €21.25
Dark romanticism meets post-punk revival. Rosegarden Funeral Party brings their signature blend of goth textures and emotional release to Berlin.
Factoid
Every night through June 20 from 9:30pm-1:00am, there will be a baffling projection on the Reichstag, the building in Tiergarten that houses the German parliament. As Andrew notes in our latest podcast, bystanders might ask themselves, “Why is the Reichstag wearing a diaper?” Thirty years ago, in 1995, artists Christo and Jean-Claude (both deceased) in fact wrapped the bulky Prussian building in a shiny plastic sheath for two weeks — before architect Norman Foster’s renovation and the addition of the glass dome. And so, in typical Berlin style, a projection of the diaper over the next week is supposed to commerate the 30th anniversary of this art-event that nobody cares or thinks about anymore. To be fair, a private foundation is paying for it (€500,000) so at least we taxpayers don’t have to complain about that.
I really hope the wind turbines won’t be installed near residential buildings, as that could lead to serious issues. There’s already a case in Brazil where nearby residents are suffering. Many have reported needing medication to sleep, experiencing depression, and dealing with constant stress due to the 24/7 noise from the turbines. Yes, they make noise. A LOT!
It is written in Portuguese, but you can easily translate 😝:
https://g1.globo.com/google/amp/pe/pernambuco/noticia/2025/04/07/pesquisa-aponta-que-77percent-das-pessoas-que-moram-perto-de-turbinas-eolicas-tem-perda-auditiva-e-mais-de-60percent-usam-remedios-para-dormir.ghtml