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Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Tuesday, October 21 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 100+ articles, posts and events so you don't have to.
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🇬🇧 Berlin tests future largest autonomous fleet in German public transport
Berlin’s public transport operator BVG launched pilot tests of autonomous shuttles in the city’s northwest yesterday. The NoWeL4 project puts five Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD vehicles with Level 4 technology on public roads, initially without passengers, across a 15-square-kilometre zone serving about 80 stops. The €9.5 million trial runs to 2027, with passenger pilots in early 2026. (Mobility Portal)
Automation also targets staffing pressures. Europe had about 105,000 unfilled bus and coach driver jobs in 2023, roughly 10 percent of positions. The shortage could exceed 275,000 by 2028 if trends persist. Only 3 percent of drivers are under 25, and 16 percent are women, underscoring recruitment headwinds for operators. (International Road Transport Union)
Calibration runs continue through autumn 2025, then closed passenger trials begin in the first half of 2026, operating Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 16:00, via app booking. A formal authorisation phase starts in 2027, before gradual fleet expansion pending federal and Berlin approvals. (BVG)
🇩🇪 BVG campaign against stench at Kottbusser Tor. Kotti will soon smell of citrus or lavender
Berlin’s Kottbusser Tor station will get cleaner, safer and better‑smelling. The transport operator unveiled steps yesterday: guided safety tours from 2026 for seniors, women and queer people; eight guards; a “Blue Point” room; deodorized elevator shafts cleaned four times weekly; plus 17% fewer crimes and 41% fewer staff assaults last year. (Tagesspiegel)
Across the network, data show improvement. In the first half of 2025, police logged 6,460 offenses in the Berlin transport system, down 17.2 percent year over year, the lowest half‑year in a decade. The operator counted 1,109.7 million rides in 2024. Attacks on employees fell to 98 from 165. (BVG)
Policy changes are also coming. From 2026, Berlin plans broader video monitoring at designated high‑crime areas, including Kottbusser Tor. Under the proposal, transport footage would be retained 72 hours instead of 48, giving victims more time to report and police more time to secure evidence. Roll‑out is slated to begin in 2026. (B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins)
🇩🇪 Nextbike could be threatened with closure in Berlin after court ruling
Nextbike faces a full shutdown in Berlin after a court ruling. Yesterday, the Administrative Court rejected the company’s urgent motion against a July order to remove 6,500 bikes for lacking a special-use permit. Judges classified the fleet as special use. Nextbike has appealed; bikes stay for now, and a permit remains possible. (rbb24)
Shared mobility is growing despite tighter rules. Europe logged about 640 million shared-mobility trips in 2024, up 5 percent year over year. Paris’ Vélib recorded nearly 50 million rides, while London saw 28 million dockless bike trips. Berlin is Europe’s largest overall shared-mobility market, underscoring local demand for bikes. (European Commission)
If Nextbike seeks to continue, the immediate step is applying for a special-use permit. Berlin districts advise filing at least eight weeks before the intended start. Unauthorized special use can bring fines up to €10,000. Those timelines and penalties will shape the company’s decision while the appeal proceeds. (Berlin.de – Pankow)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 Parts of the U2 line closed from today - where you need patience now | A section of Berlin's U-Bahn closes for a signaling upgrade, replacement buses detour.
🇩🇪 The neighborhood of rats: How Soldiner Strasse fights against dark shadows | A persistent rat plague exposes neglected waste, poverty and fractured community responsibility in Berlin.
🇬🇧 More trees planned for Berlin | Berlin coalition and activists agree on a 3 billion euro tree law.
🇩🇪 Breakthrough in the Rebecca Reusch case? Police find mysterious bag | Police search suspect’s grandparents’ property for missing Rebecca, finding mysterious bag.
🇩🇪 "I have the feeling that there is a deliberate attempt to verbally move to the right" | Sociologist warns Merz's remarks are racist, dangerously echoing Nazi-era rhetoric.
🇩🇪 How the parkour hype is spilling out of the internet onto the streets | Online videos transformed parkour from a niche hobby into a mainstream urban sport.
🇬🇧 Germany news: Berlin to buy more jets from US, media say | Germany plans to buy more F-35 jets from the United States amid military buildup.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ This weekedn: Manga & Entertainment Expo | October 24-26, 2025 | Not yet known | Dive into manga and anime culture: cosplay battles, live stages, gaming arenas, manga-drawing workshops, author signings and a sprawling Japanese food hall — pure joy for fans, cosplayers and Japanophiles.
🎟️ This weekend: The Crafty Market | October 25 and 26, 2025 | Free | Indie makers sell one-off jewelry, ceramics, crocheted balaclavas and global handicrafts — a treasure-hunt for original gifts, sustainable buys and post-shopping drinks with serious design cred.
🎟️ This weekend: All Ages Karaoke Brunch | October 26 | Free | Monster Ronsons presents All Ages Karaoke Brunch at Brasserie Dandelion. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy great food, drinks and karaoke with family and friends. All ages are welcome! (submitted by our readers)
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ BVG App | Users report BVG app failures linked to an AWS outage, suggesting alternatives.
🗣️ Invitation: When we see the planes (Wenn wir die Fahrzeug sehen) Art Exhibition_Myanmar_Berlin Freedom Week | Artists and activists spotlight Myanmar's deadly air strikes through a powerful Berlin exhibition.
🗣️ This Saturday: Pilgrimage hike just in northern Berlin (Camino de Santiago route) | Join a relaxed 15km one-day pilgrimage near Berlin for reflection and fellowship.
🥙 Fun Fact: Berlin has around 4,000 döner kebab shops – reportedly more than Istanbul! The döner as we know it (meat grilled on a vertical spit and sliced into pita) was popularized in Berlin in the 1970s by Turkish immigrants and has become the city’s go-to street food.
👋 That's a wrap! Thanks for reading Berlin News Daily!
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