BVG warns: Funny tips for the summer in Berlin's subway!

BVG warns: Funny tips for the summer in Berlin's subway!

The Berlin Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) report the days with a special note to their passengers: When using public transport, especially in the hot season, passengers should keep an eye on the new seat covers. Because while a higher number of passengers is expected near outdoor pools and lakes in summer, the BVG is anything but idle. Humorously, the company cleans up on Instagram with the problem of "gluing" on the seats through short shorts, and warns to clean up fries fingers on the new colorful seat covers to avoid unsightly spots. The post, which was released a few weeks ago, quickly enjoyed great popularity and received around 1,500 likes within a very short time. Berlin Live reports of these amusing messages and the charm, which the BVG gives the everyday trips.

But what is behind these new seat covers? The BVG has learned from a legal dispute over the usage rights of the old "worm pattern" and is now presenting a new design. Christine Wolburg, Head of Sales and Marketing, explains that the new pattern should reflect the diversity of the city and shows a real bustle of colorful, happy figures - from rust red to light blue to egg yolk and beige. In addition, the extraordinary design is supplemented with a dog, which also spices up the whole thing. Tagesspiegel has summarized the most important points for this new "Urban Jungle" design.

background to the seat covers

The theory behind the color and model selection is particularly exciting: the BVG team follows a clever approach to vandalism prevention, which is based on the principles of the opposite Broken Windows theory. This means that striking patterns and colors contribute to the fact that less is painted on the seats with felt pens or spray cans. Darker synthetic leather seats would often have done exactly the opposite. For this reason, the new, colorful designs are not only an aesthetic upgrade, but also contribute to the cleanliness of the vehicles. This strategy has proven itself over the years, which also explains the high popularity of the old seat covers, which have now become cult objects-including merchandising articles such as cell phone cases and sneakers that are printed with the popular pattern [Süddeutsche] (https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/berlin-bvg-urban-jungle-sitzbezege- 1.5296582).

However, a comprehensive exchange of the seat cushions will take some time. The scheduled exchange will be carried out gradually, since the subways have to go to the main inspection every eight years. The new electric buses that will be delivered in the coming years will also be equipped with the new design, while the old buses will continue to carry the known patterns for the time being. In order to stay up to date, passengers should regularly take a look at the new references and enjoy the colorful color worlds in Berlin's means of transport.