In Munich we have a few "green waves" - sets of traffic lights along arterial streets that are coordinated for a certain speed so that vehicles can move through the city without stopping. Although they're a nice idea, they seem to fool many a driver into thinking they're on the Autobahn. That's my unscientific opinion based on observation of the two streets that cut through the University where I work, TUM. This week, for whatever reason (maybe it had nothing to do with the signalization or speed, who knows) something went wrong at the intersection beside our building. One car ended up on its roof and the driver was seriously injured. You can read all about it here. What was more interesting to me than the photos and details however were the comments below. One person who lives nearby dared to say that the constant barrage of fast-moving vehicles makes for a very unpleasant environent. That provoked a pretty incredible response. Munich seems to be really split down the middle: those who love driving, and those who hate it, or at least see it as a more mundane means to an end. And Munich, one of whose largest employers is BMW, seems to think it can have it all: freedom and high speed for cars even in the inner city, as well aiming to become the walking and biking capital of Germany.

Photos: Berufsfeuerwehr München (Munich Fire Dept.)