Berlin’s transport authority has teamed up with adidas to release possibly the most useful pair of sneakers ever invented
Here’s a question for you. How many times have you rocked up to the bus stop and realised that you’ve left your wallet (which annoyingly contains your travelcard) back at home?
Fear not – the authority responsible for running Berlin’s U-Bahn, bus, tram and ferry networks has come up with a solution.
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has teamed up with adidas Originals to release a pair of trainers with a difference: they’re also your travel ticket!
And…just look at them.
The sneakers feature BVG’s distinctive psychedelic seat moquette, found on underground trains, buses and trams across the capital. Adidas’ iconic three stripes serve as eyelets of the BVG yellow shoelaces, and a white leather panel on the outside provides contrast and makes the shoe look different depending on the perspective.
As well as being achingly beautiful to look at, the sneakers entitle the wearer to travel on all public transport in zones A & B within the city of Berlin until 31 December 2018. The travel ticket is sewn right into the tongue of the trainer, so it goes without saying that these are definitely not a pair sneakers you’ll want to go running through muddy puddles in.
“How cool is that?”, says BVG CEO, Sigrid Nikutta. “It’s great that the BVG, which celebrates its 90th birthday this year, is now becoming a cult object itself”.
Unfortunately, the sneakers went on sale in two stores in Berlin on 16 January, and were strictly limited to only 500 pairs – and all 500 have now sold out.
But don’t worry – you can still get your hands on a pair! They’ve been spotted on eBay, reselling for upwards of a mere £1,000. If that’s a little out of your price range, how about a slightly less useful but equally tasteful pair of London Underground moquette trainers?
Let us know which you’d prefer in the comments below or drop us a tweet: @transportdsn
Image credits: BVG and Overkill.
