Vroom-Vroom

Beware! There are many differences with transportation between North America and Germany. The moment you think you have it all down is when you’ll get in the most trouble!

38. First off, German drivers DO NOT drive on the left side of the road. Visit Great Britain for a taste of having to “look right” every time you step off the curb as a pedestrian.

39. Almost all cars here have a manual transmission so you might want to work on your stick-shifting abilities before casually renting a car on that trip you’re planning.

40. Probably because of the extra half-second it takes to start moving in any clutch-controlled vehicle, the traffic lights here turn yellow for a quick moment before turning green. So for those of you trying to visualize the pattern goes green-yellow-red-yellow-green, etc. I like it that way.

41. The traffic lights themselves rarely hang above the intersection--usually they are planted on either side of the street. And that’s another thing, the stop-line is always right up where the light stands, so it’s extra fun if you’re the first in line and get to really lean forward while cranking your neck sideways and peering through the top of the windshield to see when the light will turn yellow then green. Good luck with that.

42. I promise you have never seen so many Audis, BMWs, VWs and Porsches on the road as there are here. You should come visit just for the coolness of that experience!

43. As the flowers are blooming so is the number of bikers hitting the streets. You must use extra care around these travelers because they almost always have the right of way. Most roads have a special bike lane along the right curb, so right turns become a little more complicated as you make a quick shoulder check to confirm if a bicycler is about to cross the intersection or not. Guaranteed you will win if you hit one (unless you’re driving a Trabbi) which ends up involving a lot of legal hassle, so it’s best to use extra caution and just avoid the situation altogether.

44. Each night after about 10 or 11 pm the traffic lights turn off. There are secondary signs at each main intersection that apply during the night...don’t just assume that because there’s no light you can blast through!

45. Did you know: it costs German teens up to 2000 euros to get their drivers licence. Everyone who wants a German licence must train in intensive schools for numerous hours after which a very strict written and practical test must be passed. The costs really add up--no wonder everyone who can finally drive is such a good driver.

46. Trams are a wonderful way to get around Dresden, but if you find yourself driving next to one (on bike or by car) remember to stop behind the tram at the tram stops. The tram riders getting on and off have the right of way.

47. As you approach an uncontrolled intersection if you see a yellow diamond with the thick white border that means your direction has the right of way! Woohoo!

48. Of course all of the aforementioned are really only good to know if you’re willing to shell out the 1,15 Euros per liter it currently costs for gas. Makes you think twice about hopping in your car to grab some milk at the store, that’s for sure. Walking is so much cheaper! (or riding your bike, but beware of all American drivers who haven’t read this post.)

49. If you find yourself on a bike, don’t be timid! You have just as much pull on the road as anyone. Be sure to make clear signals indicating when you intend to turn though--extend the arm fully in the direction you are turning. Cars will wait for you and honk if you hesitate for too long. After dark be sure to have a front and back light too, it’s a big fine if you get caught without. Otherwise, ride at your own risk and watch out for cobblestone!

50. One last note of caution for bike riders: if you ride parallel to the tram tracks and then want to cross over them, be sure to swerve very sharply to be successful. Just ask Amy what happens when you try to casually glide over them (that’s right, you come to a squeaky stop because your tire will slide into the track quite snugly, after which you have to climb off your bike and pull it out with quite some effort to the embarrassment of you and the amusement of those around).