Safe swimming lanes at the public pool Kreuzberg (Prinzenbad) thanks to clear speed limits

Sommerbad Kreuzberg (Prinzenbad) is one of Berlin's most popular outdoor pools, but the current situation in the lap pool is unsustainable and dangerous. Without any speed separation, fast swimmers and fitness athletes are forced to share the exact same narrow lanes with very slow swimmers who often also swim breaststroke. Those swimming at a faster pace or practicing front crawl constantly hit a "metaphorical wall". Dangerous collisions and painful kicks to the face or ribs are a daily occurrence. Overtaking forces swimmers into the middle of the lane, creating hazardous head-on traffic and chaos.

The argument sometimes raised that lane separation discriminates against slower swimmers is invalid: Prinzenbad features three separate pools, plus a very wide, non-lane area specifically meant for casual, unstructured swimming. There is more than enough space for recreation. Long-established international standards prove that everyone wins from a speed-based setup. Moreover, this exact practice is already successfully implemented by the Berliner Bäder-Betriebe in other pools across the city, such as the SSE and Stadtbad Tiergarten. This allows swimmers of all levels to enjoy the water at their own pace without fear of injury or constant arguments.

This already hazardous situation is now further exacerbated: as summer begins, Berlin's indoor pools close completely for the summer vacation, meaning crucial training lanes across the city disappear. This leaves Prinzenbad as the only accessible training venue in the area. The BBB must act now to finally ensure a safe, stress-free, and injury-free swimming environment for all visitors!