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Berlin bus driver Sener Piskin: Hero of Civil Courage awarded!
Berlin bus driver Sener Piskin was honored in 2025 for exceptional moral courage after he helped a threatened teenager.
Berlin bus driver Sener Piskin: Hero of Civil Courage awarded!
The Berlin bus driver Sener Piskin received a special award for his moral courage. On September 26, 2025, he was honored in the “Extraordinary Achievement” category as part of the “Favorite Bus Driver 2025” competition. This competition, organized by Pro Bahn, Deutsche Bahn and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), had over 2,000 nominations, which were reviewed by an expert jury. Piskin is now one of the five selected “favorite bus drivers” and can look back on an impressive career at BVG, where he has worked for 15 years.
The reason for the honor goes back several years. About nine years ago he experienced a remarkable incident when a young woman, Nele Gohdes, was pursued by an unknown man. At the Märkisches Museum final stop on bus line 256, Gohdes sought refuge in Piskin's bus. Frightened, she turned to him and asked for help. Piskin boldly stood between her and her pursuer. When he tried to get on the bus, Piskin blocked his way and threatened to alert the police. The pursuer then fled.
Unforgettable encounter
After getting Gohdes to safety, Piskin waited until she made it safely to her home. Years later, Gohdes nominated her “favorite bus driver” for the award and, at the award ceremony, expressed her gratitude for the quick help and courageous effort. Piskin himself described his actions as a spontaneous reaction to a threatening situation and emphasized that it was natural for him to provide passengers with security.
The BVG honored Piskin's commitment and described him as a role model for civil courage in local public transport. These types of awards aim to raise awareness of safety and assistance in transportation.
Safety in public transport
Such initiatives are essential considering how important moral courage can be in critical moments. The incident that Sener Piskin experienced and the award that came with it are an excellent example of the difference that one person can make in another's life.