03.05.2025, 14:10

Dear supporters,

The 2025 outdoor pool season has already begun, and we're back with an update. What has been happening since we collected more than 3000 signatures to speak up against the discriminatory access regulations for Berlin's summer pools?

We wanted to deliver your signatures in person to the Berliner Bäderbetriebe and the Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und Sport - unfortunately, the Bäderbetriebe informed us that they do not want to meet with us. The Senatsverwaltung didn't respond at all. We are disappointed to receive no response at all to the demands voiced through our petition!

Nevertheless, we believe the people in charge have not completely missed all the public criticism of the 2024 summer season: tickets can be purchased at the ticket office throughout the day again, so online tickets are no longer compulsory at certain times of day like they were last year. This was one of our demands - a small success for our petition!

We got a lot of media attention for our demands - as shown by the numerous articles that are also linked on the petition page.

And the topic will keep us busy for the foreseeable future: for the upcoming summer season, the Berliner Bäderbetriebe have set higher admission prices, and online tickets are still preferred over tickets at the ticket office. We are concerned that a spontaneous visit to the outdoor pool will become even more difficult, especially when the weather is nice! In addition, the Bäderbetriebe are not responding to criticism about the mandatory ID checks (even the Berlin data protection officer has raised concerns) and to reports of incidents in which young visitors were not allowed into the outdoor pool due to racism.

We need to continue to be loud and remind those responsible that the outdoor pools should be open to everyone!

If you want to take action on this topic, send us a message - and check out our Instagram account www.instagram.com/freibad_fuer_alle for more updates.

All the best,

Initiative Freibad Einfach Für Alle