Historical Berlin is hardly imaginable without wheels. They are the epitome of mobility and individual locomotion. Penny-farthings, racing bikes, cargo bikes or tandems - there were and are bicycles for every taste and every use. Even a hundred years ago, people used bicycles to travel to the countryside, to work or as soldiers to the front. The baker's and newspaper boys delivered their customers by bicycle and the war-disabled remained mobile on three wheels. Here you can expect a ride on two wheels through Berlin's history.
The photo book "Berlin ohne Motor" (Berlin without a motor) features a selection of photographs from the bpk-Bildarchiv of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, published in cooperation with Edition Braus.
Refreshment car on Potsdamer Platz. by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Refreshment trolley on Potsdamer Platz. Here hot drinks were available in winter and refreshing lemonades in summer. At breakfast and lunchtime, the crowds were huge. 1908, Willy Römer
Cycling race in the halls at the zoo in Berlin: the winner - in pose - and his competitors. (1910) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Cycle race in the halls at the zoo in Berlin: the winner - in pose - and his competitors, around 1910, photographer unknown
Traffic strike in Berlin, two boys on their way to school by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Traffic strike in Berlin, two boys on their way to school on a tricycle, 1919, Willy Römer
Traffic strike in Berlin, the family goes by tricycle by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Traffic strike in Berlin, the family riding a tricycle, 1919, Willy Römer
The leg-injured war-disabled man has harnessed a dog to his rubber-tired vehicle for propulsion. by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The leg-injured war-disabled man has harnessed a dog to his rubber-tyred vehicle for propulsion, 1919, Willy Römer
The scissors grinder on the way to the market by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The scissor grinder on his way to the market, 1920s, Willy Römer
Road race of the newspaper drivers (1920) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The Berlin newspaper drivers lined up for the street race with a newspaper package, 1920, Willy Römer
The "weekend car" of the little man (1922/1922) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A "weekend car" made from bicycle parts with double drive for six people, 1922, Willy Römer
The traveling bass fiddle by Walter StiehrBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The travelling bass violin - the double bass was mounted on a tricycle and was used to deliver smaller musical instruments. It was the advertising vehicle of a musical instrument shop, 1926, Walter Stiehr
.
A family goes to the countryside with tandem and trailer by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A family rides into the countryside on a tandem and trailer, 1926, Willy Römer
Six-day race at the Palace of Sport (1926) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Six-day race at the Berlin Sportpalast, 1926, Willy Römer
Erich Metze attacks and laps Frenchman Laquehai in the steeplechase on the Berlin Avus (1918/1933) by Carl WeinrotherBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Erich Metze attacks and laps Frenchman Laquehai in a stand-up race on Berlin's Avus, c. 1928, Carl Weinrother
Two-wheeler with children's sidecar at the fair (1928) by Walter StiehrBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Two-wheeler with children's sidecar, 1928, Walter Stiehr
Berlin is moving. (1931) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The furnished Fräulein moves by bicycle, 1931, Willy Römer
Father with six children on a trip with bicycle and self-made trailer (1932) by Photographer unknownBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A father with six children going for a ride on a bicycle with a homemade trailer, 1932, photographer unknown
Large cyclist rally in the Berlin Lustgarten (1933) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Great cyclists' rally in the Berlin Lustgarten. The Brandenburg two-man cycling champions Franke and
Seehaus show off their art, 1933, Willy Römer.
The flying bicycle, a design by the retired Berlin chief constable Karl Lindemann by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The flying bicycle, a construction by the retired Berlin Chief Constable Karl Lindemann, 1934, Willy Römer.
Cyclist at the corner of Chausseestraße / Invalidenstraße by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Cyclists at the corner of Chausseestraße / Invalidenstraße on their way to work, 1935, Willy Römer
D.D.A.C. in the fight against traffic accidents (1937) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
D.D.A.C. in the fight against traffic accidents. At 60 collection points in Berlin, the traffic aid organisation affixes a white light strip to the mudguard of the rear wheel of every cyclist free of charge, 1937, Willy Römer.
Biking to work in Berlin-Siemensstadt (1937) by Hanns HubmannBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Cycling to work in Berlin-Siemensstadt, 1937, Hanns Hubmann
Picture selection, bpk picture archive: Christina Stehr
Text, Edition Braus: Anne Scholz
