The bus system
Th yellow double-decker buses are virtually a Berlin landmark. More than 1.300 buses travel daily over 300.000 kilometre of bus network equating to 89 million kilometres a year.
1847 Germany's first bus line
Berlin's public transport system is the oldest in Germany. Back at the beginning, buses were drawn by horses. Berlin's first bus company started up in January of 1847 with 20 carriages and 120 horses serving 5 lines. The BVG then took over the Berlin network in 1929, which at that time already had more than 620 buses.
The worldwide economic crisis led to an expansion in bus services, as they began replacing narrow gauge tram lines. During World War Two, however, fuel shortages caused a considerable reduction in service. Many vehicles were also requisitioned for military purposes.
After 1945, bus services expanded only slowly, and took very different forms in the western and eastern parts of the city. Diesel-run double-deckers were operated in the West, while Hungarian-made "Ikarus" vehicles were run in the East.
Today, the BVG runs 150 daytime bus lines and 54 night lines. The combined length of the Berlin bus network amounts to 1,626 kilometres during the day and 751 kilometres at night. Around 10,000 stops are used around the clock, and an increasing number of buses are either wheelchair-accessible or wheelchair-friendly.
Bus stop on demand
After 8.00 p.m. in the B and C fare zones, you can ask the bus driver to let you off between regular stops.
At the regular stop before you would like to get off, just ask the driver whether your proposed stop will be possible.
Please note: Please exit at the front.
Remember that buses may only stop once between regular stops. Drivers may also not let passengers exit in no-stopping zones, next to parked cars instead of the pavement, on slippery or icy surfaces, at construction sites, or at other places that might be dangerous or have poor visibility.