When I visited France a couple of weeks ago I could not help but compare it to Germany and I am doing the exact same thing with Finland. The Finns do some things exceptionally well – even the Germans could use some of their ideas. For example, I previously reported on how in Berlin the garbage cans have cigarette disposal units attached to them. It’s not a terrible idea but it is when you put said unit right next to the opening for the garbage, problems are sure to arise.
Fire!
Now, they’ve done the same thing here in Helsinki but they’ve done it just a little bit different. Check this out.
Much better.
See the disposal unit is attached but separate from the garbage can. It is less likely that a lit cigarette butt (is that really how it is spelled?) will make its way into the trash.
So that was an example of something the Finns have done well.
And on the other end of the spectrum we have this.
Reminder: The requirement is to make things easier.
This has got to be the worst wheelchair access ramp in the history of disabled access. I don’t even know where to begin. To start it’s way too steep. And the steps in the middle are useless – it should be an unbroken surface for wheelchairs that have a shorter wheelbase at the front. Plus over here it’s winter for 8 months of the year, if there’s any ice or rain it becomes even more dangerous. And that last step: why would they just not extend the tracks until they touch the ground? Can you imagine being in a wheelchair, using this thing and then injuring yourself even further? That would be horrible.
I will give them some credit. It probably only cost about 50 Euros to install (in a country where a beer costs 10 Euros)
Die Hard Three 
I think these rails are for baby strollers, or that’s what they were from here in East Germany in the 80s when I was a kid. That’s why there are steps in the middle, so the parent can actually walk up there while shoving the baby.
We also still have them here in the West and they are for baby strollers and bikes.