Monday, May 19
Arrive in Berlin by train, get a free bicycle
The scheme is already running in Copenhagen. Anyone who visits the Danish capital by train, rather than by plan, or who stays in the city for four days or longer, is rewarded for their sustainable behaviour with a tangible benefit: a free lunch, a boat trip, or discounted museum tickets. This pilot project, named CopenPay, was launched last year, and the offer is set to expand in 2025 to include free rental bicycles.
Now, it appears Berlin is planning to follow suit, introducing a similar system to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour through “targeted incentives”. The types of actions rewarded by the Danish scheme are not limited to avoiding air travel. Other eco-conscious habits, such as picking up litter in city parks, participating in urban gardening projects, or following a vegetarian diet, can also lead to rewards, including cultural experiences or complimentary food and drink.
According to Sabine Wendt from visitBerlin, plans are already well underway to develop a comparable initiative, and the organisation is maintaining close contact with its Danish counterparts. The aim is to launch a similar incentive scheme in Berlin next year.
