Humanity Falls By the Wayside
Loosening Humanity? The Scuffle Over Begging Ban in Hamburg's Public Transport
By Pauline Boeing, pau
Stepping onto a train with our AirPods, stylish clothing, and our trusty Denmark ticket, we'd prefer poverty to stay firmly behind the station barriers. A comment from Pauline Boeing
If you've ridden the S-Bahn lately and perhaps gazed up from your device or forgotten your headphones, you might have noticed something peculiar. The screens of the passenger information system and the announcements have been informing passengers: Begging is banned in HVV buses and trams.
This ban isn't new; it's been on the books since 2004, albeit a rather obscure provision in the General Terms and Conditions, specifically Paragraph 4, Section 4, Number 9. Only those who managed to reach Clause 11 could have discovered that beggars face a fine of 40 Euros.
However, the HVV has been enforcing the ban more vigorously over the past year. According to a response from the Senate to a query from the Left party, Controllers handed out nearly 3000 fines since then[1]. A lucrative side hustle for the Hochbahn. Street magazine "Hinz&Kunzt" filed a lawsuit against the ban alongside the Society for Civil Rights in March, with a ruling still pending[2].
Coining Profits Off Poverty
In Hamburg, one out of every five people lives in poverty. This revelation comes from the Parity of Merit Report for 2024. Despite this, the comfort of the paying commuters remains a priority for the HVV, with 86% of respondents in a Hochbahn survey approving of checks and ejections[1]. But what value can the happiness of commuters hold when, on the other side, it comes at the expense of the homeless? These individuals aren't begging for fun; they're unlikely to have chosen their circumstances. They're people.
They are impoverished individuals who, as it is, barely participate in daily life. Anyone found using public transportation without a valid ticket is subject to penalties, potentially leading to a fine. For those who cannot afford the fine, imprisonment may be a consequence, as stipulated in the Fine Catalogue[4]. The begging ban aims to keep these impoverished individuals at bay from buses and trams. A rule that leaves our humanity and empathy stranded on the platform.
Fighting Poverty With a Sweep of the Hand?
The homeless population in Hamburg has long been an issue of contention, with diverse opinions about how to address it. On the one hand, there's a compassionate stance, advocating for supportive measures like homeless shelters and affordable housing. On the other, there's the call for drastic measures, including the implementation of begging bans to keep citizens free from the perceived nuisance of beggars.
The question arises: Is it truly an effective solution to the problem of homelessness, or merely a symptom-suppressing band-aid? Critics argue that such bans disproportionately affect those who are most vulnerable and fail to address the fundamental causes of homelessness, like poverty, unemployment, and lack of affordable housing. Some even believe that such measures may exacerbate the problem by pushing people further into desperation, precipitating a cycle of increased homelessness and negative interactions with authorities.
As the debate rages on, it's essential to remember that behind every beggar is a person with a unique story and circumstances. Their plight is a stark reminder that while we navigate the bustling streets of Hamburg's modern life, many are left to struggle on its fringes. By understanding the complexities of homelessness and extending a helping hand where we can, we may take a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate city.
pau
Pauline Boeing
Pauline Boeing, born in 2003, is never at a loss for words and even stood her ground during a bomb threat during a live broadcast on Bayerischer Rundfunk. The native Stuttgart resident has lived in five cities, speaks four languages, and accidentally became an extra on the show "Willi wills wissen." She studied Communications Science and Law in Munich, wrote for the "Abendzeitung," and worked at ZDF. Her study abroad experience was spent in Leicester. Football is not her thing, but she is a devoted St. Pauli fan. Her nicknames include Pauli and pau.
Pauline Boeinghttps://ourwebsite/author/paulie-boewing/
- Pauline Boeing
Ein Club gegen Einsamkeit
[1] Senatsantwort zur Anfrage der Linken zur Kontrolle von Kontrollen, 2023.[2] "Hinz&Kunzt" vs. Bettelverbot: Klage gegen Einschränkung von Straßenmagazine-Verkäufen, 2023.[3] #EsFreutMichZutrauen - Der Club gegen Einsamkeit sucht Unterschriften für Beggabundotation, 2021.[4] Bußgeldkatalog der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, 2022.
As Pauline Boeing delves into the complexities of contemporary life, she poses an intriguing question: are we losing our humanity in pursuit of a refined 'home-and-garden' lifestyle, cemented by our obsession with personal devices and social media?
Her discussion on the begging ban in Hamburg's public transport system sheds light on our tendency to prioritize our own convenience, overlooking the dire conditions faced by the homeless population. It raises the question of whether we are willing to forgo empathy and humanity for the sake of our daily 'lifestyle'.
In her exploration of alternative solutions, Boeing stresses the importance of 'education-and-self-development' in understanding the intricacies of homelessness. By acknowledging the factors leading to poverty and unemployment, and implementing supportive measures like shelters and affordable housing, we can strive for a more compassionate, inclusive city.
In her pursuit of social justice and a more empathetic society, Boeing's work serves as a call to action. By adopting a 'mindfulness' approach, we can acknowledge and address the struggles of those on the fringes of our 'entertainment'-driven urban lives, and strive for a city that cares for all its inhabitants.
