This means you could walk right on a U-Bahn train, for example, without ever paying for it. There's a catch, however. Undercover enforcement officers randomly board all modes of public transport, inspecting each person's stamped ticket. Riding without paying is called Schwarzfahren (fare dodger), and will cost you a fine of €60 (about $67.50) if you get caught. Before I knew better, I actually got caught Schwarzfahren a few years ago while visiting Berlin. I would not recommend trying it!
Even despite these difficulties, I feel excited most of all when getting around the city. I have never lived in such a big place with so many opportunities for adventure. For example, my friends and I will sometimes pick a random number, take that many stops on the train and exit at that station with no plan in mind except to explore. The beauty of Berlin is that there is always something waiting to be discovered. I also feel incredibly lucky to have access to (mostly) reliable public transport, knowing that I will never have to wait long to get where I'm going.
The prominence of public transportation is incredibly connected to Berlin's culture and environment.
Culturally, the U-Bahn is a platform for entertainment. You never know what you're going to see upon descending the stairs, whether it's a juggling act or live band. Most of these entertainers are performing for tips, which I feel happy to give, as they make traveling fun. I've even seen the same saxophone player four times across different stations. We struck up a conversation, and it turned out he s friom the United States, too!
