[Skybird]

Hit-and-run, called "Fahrerflucht" over here, would bring you into very serious legal trouble if you get caught, the same for "unterlassene Hilfeleistung".

Many communities and cities in Germany since longer time invested into building special bicycle infrastructure, from the marks on the road that rdeserve a small lane only for bikes, to own lanes between car road and pedestrian's pavement. Also, rights and prohibitions are quite clearly regulated over here.

Problem is that many people behave stupid and careless when riding a bicycle, and do things they would not do in a car. Jumping red traffic lights, stopping not at the halt-line but driving almost onto the crossroad and then blicking the crossing bike traffic. Cutting the corner and the others have to emergency-brake. Driving rude, in dense crowds, almost assaulting pedestrians. Driving alcoholised, and so on.

Sidelanes must be used over here only when a traffic sign calls for that, else you have the choice whether to use that or the main road. Using sidelanes on the other side of the road is prohibited in general if not allowed by a traffic sign.

It depends on the place. Some cities have embedded bike-friendly infrastructure into their general traffic infrastructure, others lag behind. I have the luck that I live in an extremely bicycle-friendly city with plenty of specialised infrastrucre for bikes both inside and outside of town. It is the most bicycle-friendly town in Germany and one of the two or three cities in all europe that have more bikes than any other european city, competing for this ranking with Amsterdam and Copenhagen only.

The growing rate of bicycle accidents we have involves many children. The rise also can be explaiojned becasue the number of bicycle riders rises i general: more and mor epeople prefer it as an alternative to using a car or public transportation over typical in-town distances.

My advise: obey relevant traffic rules the very same way you would obey them when driving a car. Drive defensively, and not in the middle of the lane, but at the side. Do not scare pedestrians, and give up the right of way generously instead of enforcing it without any need - saves your nerves. Search eye contact with car drivers. Be friendly - you'll be surprised how often I see my smile or gesture getting returned from car drivers or bus drivers. Have good lights and brakes, always in good condition. Behave predictable.

The only people in traffic that give me trouble time and again - are bicycle riders. And when they come in a Rudel, I ring general quarters immediately. A holiday group of bicycle riders is a nightmare, since all cognitive functions and cortical activity get supressed the more the bigger the Rudel is.