That man on the bike

Since arriving in Berlin from Turkey almost 50 years ago, AYDIN AKIN's been obsessed with improving the lives of the city's migrants.

If you live in Berlin or have visited, it’s likely you have seen him – he’s the man who rides a heavily decorated bicycle across the city each day, blowing on a whistle, pumping his arms and blasting the football chant, “Olé, Olé, Olé”.

When young newcomers arrive in Berlin today, high on the city’s hopeful energy, it’s not long before somebody one-ups them with the classic line: “Berlin was so much better five years ago.”

AYDIN AKIN has been here for nearly half a century now. But he reckons that for Berlin’s newcomers, the best is yet to come. And he’s demonstrating every day to try to get us there.