Commuter hero from Beckenthin: This is how Sven Hampel copes with the stress after Berlin!

Commuter hero from Beckenthin: This is how Sven Hampel copes with the stress after Berlin!

Commuting is a daily stress factor for many, and this also applies to Sven Hampel, a 62-year-old firefighter from Beckenthin in the municipality of Gumtow. Every day Hampel makes his way to Berlin to do his job with the professional fire department. Despite the challenges of commuting, he never gave up his job in the capital. According to a report by maz-online.de It is often difficult for shift workers in particular to cope with the long journey times, but Hampel is not one of those who throws in the towel.

The commuter has gotten used to the quiet commute, which takes him about 90 minutes to get to the city by car, but he still allows extra time on Sunday afternoons in the summer because the highway is busy during this time. “An extra hour can quickly add up,” thinks Hampel pragmatically. His everyday working life is special: he works four days a week, with long shifts of twelve hours, which also give him three days off per week.

Traffic conditions and commuter stress

Almost everyone knows the problems associated with commuting. According to an analysis by tagesschau.de Germans spend an average of 43 hours a year in traffic jams, an increase compared to the previous year. The ever-increasing traffic congestion, especially in large cities such as Düsseldorf and Cologne, does not make getting to work any easier. In the cathedral city you are stuck in traffic jams for around 56 hours a year. The causes are diverse; Construction sites and the return to face-to-face times in offices are contributing significantly to this development.

It seems that many working people are forced to spend their free time behind the wheel of vehicles. Hampel has made the decision to continue driving, even though train service is often unreliable. He has lived in Beckenthin since the 2000s because he couldn't find an affordable apartment in Berlin. And the Hampel family also shows a lot of commitment to their village: they lovingly renovated the over 100-year-old settler's house in which they live.

Involvement in village life

In addition to his work in the fire department, Sven Hampel is also an active member of village life. He has led a theater group in Kunow for 20 years and has thus promoted the village population's interest in cultural events. His commitment is also visible in community politics: in 2014 he was named “Volunteer of the Month” after he campaigned for the renovation of the Kunow church. Last year he even considered running for council in Gumtow, but was glad he wasn't elected.

It turns out that commuting under the current conditions remains a challenge for many. But with commitment to work and volunteer work, you can still give your everyday life meaning - just as Sven Hampel does with flying colors.