Bist du rücksichtvoll? That's the question from a sign next to the biking lanes on the sidewalks of Konstanz, and it's a pun. Rücksichtvoll can mean "considerate" but it can also refer literally to "looking behind yourself." So the question asks, "Are you considerate?" and "Are you someone who looks behind themselves?" Both are references to the bikers of Konstanz. And you have to keep an eye out for them!
The citizens of Konstanz, much like the rest of Europe, mostly get around by riding bicycles. People of all ages ride their bikes to and from school, work and other destinations down the street.
Jenny and I occasionally rent bikes to explore the nearby forest in Allensbach, just west of Konstanz. In addition to being affordable, biking is a lot of fun and efficient. In the city limits of Konstanz, whether you're driving a car or walking, you have to be on the lookout for bikers. And they are everywhere at all times. Before sunrise and after sunset, you can watch from our apartment balcony and see a constant arch of lights from the bikes that pass from one side of the city to the other.
