See the rest of Summer Cycle Chic here.

The summer returned today after 3 weeks of rain. A good reason to take a detour around the block while shopping for groceries and flip out the phone camera.

Camera: Nokia N95
Color correction/distortion was applied

• amsterdamize.com and
• video.amsterdamize.com

The first will show a new design, but the same familiar content, text, photos and videos. I created the second (Amsterdamize : Bicycle TV) for your convenience, so you can browse through all of the videos in one place. Much better, I think.

Things left to do, which will probably take a few days:

• Automatically redirecting you and other visitors from the ‘old’ blog to the new one
• Transferring the rest of the extensive blogroll and other info
• Tweaking quite a few posts for optimal performance

Things for further consideration:

• If you’re subscribed through this feed, you don’t have to worry about changing it for the new blog, it’s still the same one
• You can now also opt to just subscribe exclusively to the videos through the Bicycle TV RSS feed, iTunes or Miro.

Special note: I’d like to thank NunoXEI for creating that amazingly fitting logo for the new blog. I owe you one, my friend!

Let me know what you think of it all! I appreciate suggestions and ideas!

My good buddy Gabemac, the host of the Daily Buzz, apparently got inspired by my little bike blog adventure and related ones, such as Mikael’s and decided to dedicate the whole show to what we all love so much. Kudos to him and for being able to squeeze so much in, be it less than 7 minutes. Enjoy!

1) 2)

3) 4)

5)

6) 7)

1) “On Spiegelstraat towards Herengracht. Sexiness on two wheels. Hey, how can you not enjoy this?”
2) “Herengracht near Thorbecke/Rembrandt Square. Probably somebody who confused having a sense of humor with vandalism while drunk last night.”
3) “Utrechtsestraat towards Frederiksplein. She was too fast for my slow ride, had to hurry.”
4) “On Van Baerlestraat, which is being reconstructed. Girl is comfortably talking to a friend on her mobile phone.”
5) “On Van Baerlestraat, parking at the Albert Heijn supermarket at Museum Square, next to an identical bike as mine, apart from the rack on the back and different color.”
6) “Parked behind me at the Albert Heijn supermarket at Museum Square was one of Workcycles’ handmade Preacher’s bicycles.”
7) “On Jan Pieter Heijestraat towards Kinkerstraat. Your Message Here. Bike taxi.”

On the left is John, on the right Ron(ald). I asked permission to take their picture, because of a Grolsch project I’m helping out with, but they invited me to stay and have a beer with them. Ron is the resident of the street and John’s a friend who came over to chill with him, something they do every week, when the weather allows it. It was a very fun conversation, Ron loved my bike, wanted to know about my blog and we exchanged information. Before leaving the scene, Ron invited me to come back tomorrow, when they continue, but with more people, sort of block party. I happily accepted. Good neighbors, even though they’re only ‘temporary’ ones.

This is Amsterdam, too.

(Oh, and you must have noted the parked bicycles in the background. Yeah, I can’t help myself.)

I tested a few models and I couldn’t help but think I should have waited with buying my Sparta Pick Up. I don’t really regret it, but the Workcycles models are way up there and well worth the extra few hundred euros. One small consolation was that I still needed to have a good Brooks saddle, so no better place than Henry’s to replace it.

Here are some pics of my visit:

See the rest in the photo set.

Without exception, at all venues of leisure you’ll see two things: people and bikes. Lots of them. The streets belong to us. Makes it all so much more relaxed and convenient.

Friends riding into town

Marie Heineken Square, O’Donnell’s terrace.

Riding into De Pijp neighborhood.

Pedaling towards De Jordaan neighborhood.

Waiting at a bicycle traffic light, leaning and standing up.

I shot these pictures with my Nokia N95 camera.

“Q: How have Copenhagen and other European cities made travel by bicycle so easy, accepted, and fashionable? What can cities in the USA and other parts of the world do to emulate the best elements of Copenhagen’s cycling culture?

A: Copenhagen has been dedicated to creating ‘liveable spaces for living people’ for the better part of four decades. Bicycle infrastructure is a big part of it, but not the only part. It is a classic tale of ‘if you build it, they will come.’ If you give your citizens the opportunity to ride, by providing separated bike lanes and facilities, they will ride. If you help present cycling as easy and fast and accessible, branding it as an acceptable form of transport, they will ride. Less focus on safety – people aren’t stupid – more focus on the benefits of cycling – personal and societal – and you are planting the seeds of bicycle culture. In North America, the sports industry have worked hard for decades to sell cycling as a sport or a hobby. Now we need to get people to realise it doesn’t have to be only a sport. It is transport for people in normal clothes. 54% of Copenhageners ride their bikes because it’s easy and fast. Using your bike is a given here. It’s second nature. It’s not something you think about. You just do it.”

Or, as in this case, which involves a man’s best friend and the need to move him/her around town, all you need is a box. Meet Johnson, Andrew Watsons’ bulldog:

And don’t you dare start commenting on the lack of helmet wear, of either the human or the K-9.

“He’s yet to be fully potty trained, but he can bike. Just turned 3 years! Watch him go!”

How very Dutch of Ben!

Blogging from Amsterdam

“I am in Amsterdam now. Lots of bicycles. Will post photos when I return. They have parking lots for bikes. No sports/fitness bikes like in the US. Only utility bikes. They don’t lock the bikes to racks. They just lock the rear wheel in hopes someone doesn’t pick it up and walk off.No helmets either.

The transit system is so sophisticated that there are street lights for the bikes. Cyclists pull up to the light like a car, but in their own lane. The light changes, the light actually has a picture of a bicycle in it.

The weirdest bicycle moment was when we were eating dinner last night. A one legged man doubled on the back of his friends bike. He came down the street and greeted his friend. Then he jumped on the back of the bike. His friend took off with him and his crutches in tow on the rear rack.

More later…”

(PS. I added the picture)

Hi, I would like you to reconsider posting a link to VELORUTION. They have published a blog that is very racially offensive. If anyone knew that you helped Velorution advertise by providing them with a link through your site – its possible that some people that you know, would be extremely disappointed.

Thank you for your consideration

Ashley Hosten

My answer:

Hi Ashley,

I hadn’t checked Velorution for a while, thanks for drawing my attention to this particular post. It is certainly a dishonest and discriminatory piece, which I don’t support, particularly his generalization of how ‘ The Dutch recognise the problem they have and openly talk about it: dark-skinned immigrants do not cycle and that lowers the standards of the nation’.

1) he implies that only dark-skinned immigrants don’t cycle.
a) non dark-skinned immigrants do cycle?
b ) actually, regardless of some polarizing fear-mongering politicians, the Dutch government subsidizes cycle lessons for immigrants, specifically for women, as bicycle use is cost-efficient (important), it’s a social factor (very important) and liberating (and we know how much of a emancipating symbol the bicycle has been in early 20th century (before women won the right to vote). Why change something that works, right?
c) from my personal observations: rather the majority than the minority of (1st/2nd and 3rd generation) of immigrants (most naturalised) uses the bicycle.
2) even if his dribble was fact, not cycling doesn’t lower the standards. I can’t make any cheese out of this bit.

So, in conclusion, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. I’ve now decided to post this e-mail exchange on my blog, to let others know. And take him off my blogroll, of course.

best,

Marc

[Update]

I think I can put this issue to rest by adding Velorution’s commentary on my post/e-mail:

P.S. Below the fold are some of the emails I have received. I would like to single out one remark that is characteristic of the prevalent hypocrisy. Amsterdamize called my previous post “dishonest and discriminatory” and claims that “rather the majority than the minority of (1st/2nd and 3rd generation) of immigrants (most naturalised) uses the bicycle.” How come then, one has to look very hard among the hundreds of photographs he publishes, to see a dark face on a bike. Who is the racist now?

Velorution, I’m the last one to see things in black and white, whether it regards people or things written down. I read your post twice, because the first time I wasn’t sure whether you were being ironic, sarcastic, or anything else. Maybe I missed a few things that would clear this thing up. Misconception is a rotten thing, certainly on the internet. Hence, I read it again.

There’s absolutely no wiggle room for misinterpretation. You are an ill-informed, generalizing, discriminatory and dishonest person. With this comment, I would add ‘delusional’ and ‘plain dumb’ to it, as well.

No, you got it right, I’m not going to dignify this utter bullshit any further. I’d be lowering my standards.

I leave you with a related discussion on the CycleChat forum.

Update: Velorution added this and this post to its buckle. I commented the following (waiting for it to appear):

“Well, Andrea, mea culpa? Hardly. Your earlier and apparent intellectual laziness is now pretty clear. You should have thought twice before lumping together many false characterizations and let your bigotry shine through. When you attempted to point out my ‘racism’ and ‘hypocrisy’ because you hardly saw any ‘black people’ in my ‘hundreds of photos’, I could hardly restrain myself from unleashing a DOS-attack on your ‘quaint’ little online bike shop. But then I thought you just weren’t worth having a normal discussion with, let alone lose my temper over. Reading your previous posts and this one I feel totally at ease. My outrage was well founded. You’re so dishonest and inconsistent it’s hard to fathom you can run a business. You basically go from trashing, abusing and discriminating immigrants/black people (or let’s just say ‘not your kind’), to disingenuous backpedaling and (post-related) factual distortion, ending with a half ass and badly baked mea culpa.

It’s so transparent, it’s not hard to feel sorry for you. If you still wonder why I added ‘intellectual laziness’ to the list…my best guess is that you look at pictures the same way you look at those ‘other people’: commonalities. Well, I hate to break to you, but a ‘melting pot’ isn’t called that for nothing. How can you tell (more and more) these days who’s an immigrant, 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation, or anything else? I can’t. (But I know you were looking for those burkas, sure) But then again, what is black, what is brown, what is yellow? I don’t single them out, maybe because they’re just people of Amsterdam and they just happen to be there when I click, regardless. I don’t see how London can be any different from Amsterdam, which demographics have also changed gradually but consistently.

The only conclusion I can come up with is that you haven’t. I sincerely hope you will.”

Photo link 1, Photo link 2, Photo link 3, Photo link 4, Photo link 5, Photo link 6, Photo link 7, Photo link 8, Photo link 9, Photo link 10, Photo link 11, Photo link 12, Photo link 13, Photo link 14, Photo link 15

I could go on, but do you see what I mean? Do you?”

He features in a short film called ‘The Perfect Circle’ by Daniel Leeb (Cinecycle Productions), as part of the larger I-Cycle Film Series, which is all great to watch. I’m a video buff by default and most certainly when it comes to cycle films, so I’m thrilled to share this nugget. For all the text you can write or photos you can take, nothing can match the impact of film.

(Click on the image, it will take you to more pictures)

Enter our Royals. For generations, since the introduction of the bicycle (type) as we know it today, they’ve wholeheartedly embraced it, like the rest of the populace. From King Henry III, Queen Emma, Wilhelmina, Juliana to current reigning Queen Beatrix, each and everyone of them, including their spouses, have not just posed with a bicycle for photo ops, but indeed actively used it on a regular basis. It also made it easy for them to blend in sort of anonymously when they decided to escape the royal confines.

The next in line for the throne, Prince Willem-Alexander is no different. He and his wife Maxima proudly carry on the Dutch tradition of ‘act normal, then you act crazy enough’.

‘Nuff said.

Queen Wilhelmina

Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard on a tandem.

Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus.

Princess Maxima and Prince Willem-Alexander and offspring.

Go ahead and have a listen through the player you see below, or just subscribe to the podcast on their website. Oh, and obviously, buy the book when it comes out, from what I hear it’s gonna be a must-read…;-)

Image courtesy by Léah of Bike In The City

Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday!

After my return last night I mentioned to a friend that a whole day of non-stop rain is rarely the case in the Netherlands. Yes, it rains a lot, too, but it comes in spades. One moment you’d feel like going to the beach, next thing you know the place is flooding. In short, usually you can’t count on any prediction.

‘Usually’ is the segway to this part of the post. Because, funny thing, today London’s climatic seizure moved here. Jolly. This of course gave me an opportunity to do a photo series on Amsterdam cyclists in the rain:

Ride it out, brother.

Tucked in at the front, cycle chic at the wheel.

Another high tech Amsterdamize solution.

She only ‘popped the hood’ on her sweater.

Optical illusion, it’s still raining.

See more in the Amsterdamize : Soaking Cycling photo set.

Here’s what happens when three teens ride around town on one bike, not an uncommon scene in Amsterdam.

• The boy is steering, one girl is on the handlebars, one girl on the back
• All three take turns holding the camera
• The girl on the back also takes turns pedaling 

It’s all in Dutch, but you’ll understand the fooling around vibe. The footage is messy, but not at all annoying, certainly entertaining. Enjoy.

Part 1

Part 2

[PS. Yes, you recognized the street from my last bicycle vlog.]

On so many levels this has never happened to me:
1. I watched the news and felt upbeat and excited afterwards
2. I watched the news and two stories (1 & 2) in a row were showing what used to be ‘alternative’ ideas as mainstream.
3. I watched the news because I turned it on, and I didn’t walk away
Thank goodness I was waiting for Hub to get ready to go get his bike at the shop or these great things would have never have happened to me.

building a bicycle infrastructure in Boston

I think this news item is good, but when it comes to exposure, building awareness and promoting usage, the web is already light years ahead. I just know the cycle phenomenon has grown way bigger in the US than most assume right now. It’s just a sad state of affairs that one still needs acknowledgment from the MSM to feel legit, public scrutiny and all.

(Speaking of scrutiny: no, I couldn’t even embed the video on Amsterdamize. The code is not compatible. But I’m happy linking you to a fellow bicycle nut…)

1905, Man with bicycle and butter trader ‘De Eendracht’ at Amstelveld market, faced towards Kerkstraat. Photo by J.L. Scherpenisse.

1906, Rembrandt Parties, decorated bicycles for flower corso in Vondelpark. Photo by Josephus Nuss.

1906, woman on bicycle, child on bicycle in the distance, in the direction of Naarden-Bussum. A woman is selling second hand clothes on the side of the road. Photo by J.L. Scherpenisse.

See more in the Amsterdamize Classics : 1895 – 1910 photo set.

Feel free to e-mail your own (links to) cycle photos to Amsterdamize, see the menu bar on the top left for the address.

The image library is vast, huge, enormous. Sophisticated search options instantly got me what I was looking for. Then more, more…sure enough, 2 days later, I’m still browsing.

My catch so far: about 250 bicycle related or non-related, but with bicycle as side-kick, photos. Ranging from 1895 to 2007.

Having gone through them all, (legally!) downloaded them all, tagged them all, named them all, a few assumed and promoted aspects of the history of bicycles in the Netherlands are totally confirmed now, no myths, no exaggerations.

Since its invention the Dutch have embraced the bicycle completely (whether general usage was up or down) and started using it for work (commute/cargo), leisure, family, events, celebrations, rich or poor, etc etc. It hasn’t changed one bit. More volume now, but same attitude, same pragmatism, same no-nonsense, same feel for style (or just disregard for necessity to wear something else), the same joy for riding.

Alright, I’ve decided to gradually put them all up, working from back to front, starting at the turn of the 19th century, coining this series ‘Amsterdamize Classics’. For this first post, however, I wanted to pick a decade that I have some familiarity with…thus bringing you the Cycle Chic Jive of the 70′s.

A few from this batch:

1975, girl on Dam Square. Photo by Ed van der Elsken.

1970, corner of Eerste Laurierdwarsstraat and Eerste Rozendwarsstraat, two friends pedaling off into town. Photo by the Amsterdam City Archive.

1975, Vijzelgracht, gotcha! Photo by Ed van der Elsken.

1979, Reguliersbreestraat, view from Rembrandt Square, a time when cars were still allowed there, rush hour for all. Photo by Ed van der Elsken.

March 19, 1956

March 30, 2007

But the number of bikes in the Netherlands has been at that level, thus stable for years, so what explains this gap? According to the chairman of the Dutch Bicycle Union it boils down to this: 

• broken bikes are taken off the streets by city services
• abandoned bikes are taken off the streets to be recycled. Read: shredded.
• illegally parked bikes are taken off the streets and are registered to be picked up by the rightful owners, but that hardly ever happens. If so, they are shredded, including perfectly new bikes. Suggestion: resell them.
• Gangs in vans drive around neighborhoods, pick up parked & locked bikes and drive them abroad to be sold. Mostly in Germany and Belgium. It sounds odd, but I’ve experienced the bad end result of this twice myself.

[Update: a related story]

One observation: bicycling and accompanying attire hasn’t really changed at all.

As a history buff, I dwell on this stuff.

(click on the photo to see it full scale, as my blog template cuts it off by about 15%)

However quaint and lovely this Amsterdam looks, don’t be fooled. When it comes to riding around town, you need to be overly aware of all modes of traffic that swiftly move around everyday and share this extremely compact city:

• Cars, vans, trucks
• Motorcycles, mopeds
• Trams, busses, taxi’s
• 300.000+ daily cyclists (700.000+ bikes)
• Pedestrians

Ok, the first rule of this series obviously has to do with you, the newbie, the guest, the cycling visiteur being among others. Those ‘others’ would be us, the locals, going from A to B, to C, D, Z and back, ziggedyzag. Day by day, for every errand, for every task, for any venture, we take our bikes and we rule. Mind you, it’s in our blood, we don’t consider it a culture or something quaint. It’s there, we use it, period. We don’t know any better.

First, there’s one important thing I’d like to get out of the way. When you visit and you decide to cycle around, do me and yourself a favor, forget ALL that you think you know about (city) cycling. Why? Because your preconceptions and experiences from home will cloud your judgement. Open your mind, get a grip, try to understand this…in this town you are Nr 1. Yes, YOU, on the bike, are Number 1. Not just for ‘green’ coolness and efficiency, no. 99% of the time you have right of way, cars will be mindful, stop, etc, because drivers are cyclists too. Plus, by law, no matter what mistake you make as a cyclist, you can not be faulted. Aka, in any circumstance, no matter what happens, the car driver will be liable for prosecution for not being careful enough. How’s that, huh? (Just be aware of the speedy trams)

I’m well aware that Amsterdam has its perks and while you’re pumped up about being in this mythical and notorious town, nothing’s seems more fun than mixing up some doobies with a few drinks and then ride the red monster. For argument’s sake, let me disregard that daring prospect for now and deal with it later in another Unwritten Cycle Rule.

Rule #1 is aimed at those that are:

• unfamiliar with Amsterdam
• unfamiliar with cycling
• unfamiliar with cycling in Amsterdam

For most tourists Amsterdam can be overwhelming, disorienting, strange, weird/quirky, unexpecting and a lot of other things. And that’s fine, would be weird if it was anything else, right? The last thing you want to do, as a newbie Amsterdam cyclist, is not appreciate these facts and let them sink into your brain. Unfamiliar grounds, people, traffic, situations, sounds, smells, etc etc. 

So, before you mount the (rented) bicycle, be honest with yourself:

• when was the last time you cycled (excluding childhood memories)?
• when was the last time you cycled downtown, in a more than average sized city?
• are you a person worried about the amount of ‘personal space’ people allow you?
• are you a person who’s not known for paramount control of bodily functions?
• have you ever been in a cycle accident and do you still worry about that?
• assuming you come from a typical car-dominated culture, have you ever cursed those crazy cyclists?

If you think you didn’t score that well and you’re still being honest, then we’re on to something. A lot of those millions of tourists that have been so bold to discover this town by bike weren’t so honest. I’d know, I’ve seen them fail, put themselves in harm’s way and basically give tourists a bad name (among the locals).

But I don’t want to spook you…because that would be bad, there’s enough bike related fear mongering going on in this world already. I want you to have fun, without having to worry too much about whether it’s safe or not. The activity of biking in itself is harmless, you’ve just been brainwashed and violated a lot in the course of your life, because nobody provided you with the habitat to do so.

When I talk about Amsterdam’s bike infrastructure, I don’t mean we painted a few lines on the road. No, I’m talking about actual bike lanes, signs, traffic lights, roundabouts, intersections, parking garages, designated hubs, the works. All part of making a city for the people, not cars. And, no, we didn’t implement that for tourists, what did you think this place is, Disneyland?

Hence, regarding biking in Amsterdam, you could take these easy pointers to heart:

• Most Dutch will tell you a few things by default, but I’m sure you don’t get half of the real deal: either ask specifically what the biking essentials are at the bike rental or go to the VVV (tourist) office at Central Station for this information. It’s free. 
• With this information (including the map), try to get a good feel for this concentric city. The more you familiarize yourself beforehand, the easier it will be to adapt once you’re on the bike lane.
• Pick a place (courtyard, square, anything but a sidewalk) to get a feel of the bike, to practice hard left and right turns, braking, stopping, balancing etc. Every bike is different, let alone getting on after not having done so for 10 years or more. Just picking the color of your rent-a-bike just won’t cut it to survive.
• If you’re by yourself, closely watch what other people do, go with the flow. There’s no need to go as fast as the Dutch, but it’s not wise to assume you’re king of the road either (which will be explained in an upcoming rule).

What I’ve tried to address in this first rule and its pointers is the fact that you need to be aware of 2 important phenomenons:

1. Amsterdam’s segregated bike infrastructure will allow you to appreciate the city in the best way possible.
2. Amsterdam’s segregated bike infrastructure doesn’t automatically mean you will be safe from yourself.

Stay tuned for Amsterdamize’s Unwritten Cycle Rule #2!

Tres Chic.

Checking hair, effortlessly.

Back from the office, presumably on his way to pick up the kids.

No comment needed.

Pause & chat before going seperate ways.

SUV’s parking at Vondelpark playground.

See more in the City Cycle Chic Fabric photoset.

Motorists envious for at least 10 seconds. Cycle Chic alert.

Utility ways of Amsterdam cyclists, man or woman.

Speed & practicality.

Resting easy at bike traffic light & turning right on red.

Tourists rolled into frame from the pavement, passed the traffic light (no biggie), but still too scared or oblivious to use the bike lane, plus blocking the other bike lane…what MORE does a city need to do to make it easy? Ten seconds later I saw the bloke crossing at the exact time that the cars started pulling up, and he quickly had to jump back. *Sigh*.

• Turn signal biking jacket
  “This tutorial will show you how to build a jacket with turn signals that will let people know where you’re headed when you’re on your bike. We’ll use conductive thread and sewable electronics so your jacket will be soft and wearable and washable when you’re done. Enjoy!”

World

• 17 reasons why bicycles are the most popular vehicle in the world today

UK

• The Big Question: Is Britain really getting on its bike and turning into a nation of cyclists?
  “Why are we asking this now?Because cycling’s time has come – or so it seems from a flurry of initiatives sweeping the country as politicians and planners wake up to what is increasingly seen as the transport of the future.
  …
  So how do we compare with the Continent?
  “Cycling on the Continent is embedded in the culture – in northern European cities, anyway. There are reckoned to be as many bikes as there are people in the Netherlands, and anyone who has visited Amsterdam will know that cycling there is the norm, while car-driving is, relatively speaking, a fringe activity. Road design, and the conduct of drivers, reflects this balance. The bike has priority over the car, whereas in British cities, it remains the other way round. The result is an abiding perception of danger that continues to dissuade people from taking up commuting by bike.”

Europe

• Rome launches bicycle-sharing scheme
• Europe’s best selling e-Bike already sold out
• Bicycle island off the Copenhagen coast
  “In accordance with the environmental goals set by the city, The Bicycle Island will be fully self-sustainable. All power will be generated by offshore wind turbines and all waste will be recycled. The goal is becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral island.”
• Dutch study seeks to solve Sofia’s traffic woes
  “An important feature of the study is that it is not a theoretical exercise – clients need an assessment that has been made based on thorough study of the current situation and workshops involving all stakeholders.
  …
  The city hall was also interested in the second part of the feasibility study to research and offer solutions to development of bicycle lanes network in Sofia. Feiko van der Veen, senior consultant on traffic management at DHV said that they would consider the study on bicycle options.”
• Two Wheels
• Malta PM receives report on reducing carbon footprint

North-America

• Baby steps for bicycle lanes
• Bicycle interest on the move
  “Irvin said he even sold bicycles to a couple who plans to abandon their automotive ways. “They were selling their cars and … using that money to buy the bikes.”

Not all new customers have gone that far, but Walt’s manager Sarah Ashman said there has been high interest in bikes for commuting to work.”

• Bicycle lanes: do it right or don’t do it at all
• Commuters ditching cars for bikes, foot power
  “Those who bicycle say they get benefits beyond just buffeting their budgets from gasoline prices.”It’s the fastest way to get to work. Compared to Muni, it takes half the time,” said Tumlin. “I bike because I can change my route and stop off and run errands and see people along the way. It is great exercise and I find a significant difference in my productivity when I bike to work. I am smarter when I bike. I’m more patient when I bike.”

Asia

• Fuel Prices Boost Cause of S. Asia’s Maligned Rickshaw
• Bengal youth on “World Bicycle Tour for HIV/Aids Awareness” reaches Georgia

Australia

• Two wheels good

Other viewing/embedding options:

• Blip.tv
• Vimeo
• YouTube

However quirky the backdrop of this tale is, it’s obvious the message is simply very powerful and mesmerizing. Thinking about it for a few seconds, I saw the similarities between this and the cycle life many of us like to promote and share with others, posting our experiences online, be it by text, photos or video. A message of ‘get on and just ride’, no matter where you are.

So, my idea is to setup a little project in a similar fashion…without the need to travel (of course I wouldn’t mind). Let’s give it a working title for now, ‘Where The Hell Is My Bike’:

• Put your inhibitions aside
• Take your (phone) camera (all of them have video mode these days)
• Get on your bike, like you always do
• Ride!
• Shoot while riding (this involves some practice, but it’s easy, really)
• Any route will do
• Two angles: 1) filming straight ahead, 2) filming yourself (stretch your arm sideways and point your camera at yourself and hold.
• Send your footage to me. (We’ll sort out how, by any means. The interwebs are cool with that)

What you reckon? Can we do this?
 

Other viewing/embedding options:

• Blip.tv
• Vimeo
• YouTube

George Carlin on saving the planet

On death – RIP

Yes, these pictures amplify and sustain the reason I started this blog: I won’t take it for granted anymore.

texting and biking, originally uploaded by zoinkydoink.

Front Seat Driver, originally uploaded by marcus_a.
“After a super early morning bus ride to the airport, we finally arrived in Amsterdam. Walking the streets and getting a sense of the surroundings was hard. Everything looked the same. building, coffee shops, and people riding on bicycles everywhere. With that said, it was a pleasant feeling to know that people didn’t always need to drive gas gusseler to get around.”

Biking, originally uploaded by sevennine.
“What would a trip to Amsterdam be without biking around the city? I don’t know. My buddy (a head of me) went for a little photo excursion via bike. I with Toronto was more bike-friendly.”

Bikepooling, originally uploaded by gussifer.

Gazelle, originally uploaded by Alex280370.

Amsterdam morning rush II, originally uploaded by frenzypic.
“most people are biking in the morning to get to the office or the kindergarden”

Bikes are widely used in Amsterdam, originally uploaded by rayuma.

A bike taxi easing through.

It’s pretty clear who lives at nr 4a. Striking color match between bike and street art.

See more here.

• Google’s Sexy Bicycle Giveaways and Africa’s Versatile Bike Trucks
  “The Internet search engine company Google, now a reputable green icon with its solar powered Mountainview headquarters, last year gave away bicycles to its staff in Europe, Asia and Africa as part of its efforts to reduce the impact of transportation on the environment.”
  …
  “In Africa, bicycles to those who can afford them are everything and never to come in sexy, trendy models as those Google, or the Swedish furniture maker, Ikea, were offering their staff for free. Versatility is everything and depending on where you are, a bicycle can be a large farm truck or an ambulance saving lives deep in the African jungle.” 
• Bicycling in Peru: An Art of Adaptation
  “In some places in Peru it is just as common to see people bicycling as it is driving cars. Most Peruvians cannot afford cars and for this reason, bicycles provide an excellent, inexpensive means of quick transportation. Peruvians also are masters at modifying their bicycles in creative ways so that they can be used to transport goods and tools for their work and businesses. Fruits, vegetables, construction materials, ice cream, meat, bananas, pets, and countless other items can be transported by bicycle, when a cart has been added. Unlike in the United States though, these aren’t your everyday bicycle carts.”

More links:

• Germany Looks to Boost Biking as Europe Pedals Past
  “Germany wants to double its bicycle traffic by 2012. While breaking Germany’s car addiction has proved a major challenge, other European cities have shown it’s possible to make the switch.”
• Wheeling Out A New Idea For Commuters (Canada)
  “Montrealers will get to try North America’s first self-serve bicycle rental system as early as this fall, said André Lavallée, the city’s executive committee member in charge of transportation.
  The new system will feature public bike stations set up across the city where commuters will be able to use a credit card, rent a bike for a minimal fee and then drop it off at a second station near their intended destination.” 
• As oil prices soar, for-hire bikes make US debut
  “In the next few months, the US federal capital, Washington DC, will be the first city in the United States to have a two-wheeled transport solution unveiled under its nose.A rival of Jean-Claude Decaux, whose Velib are popular on Paris streets, Clear Channel Outdoor is bringing the biking scheme stateside. The US company also hopes to branch out into other US cities soon such as Minneapolis, Albuquerque and Portland, Oregon.”
• Taste the freedom that comes with bicycling (Australia, Dreams On Wheels Exhibition)
  “”It’s a bit like how having a car is a status symbol in some countries – do you have a red Porsche or a white Peugeot? In Denmark, if you have a Christiana bike (a trike which can carry children, weights and loads), or a Biomega cycle, you’re saying who you are.” 
• Her dream quest: Woman and her children bike to Maine to fulfill lifelong yearning
  “I don’t see many problems,” she says in the days before departure. “We’re going to camp and meet people. Can’t you just imagine people along the way offering you dinner or a place to camp? I think those people exist out there and we’re going to meet them.”
• Quotes About Cycling (hat tip to Cyclelicio.us)
  “I thought of that while riding my bike.” — Albert Einstein, on the theory of relativity

  “At that age, it’s one of the worse things in the world to wake up and not see your bike where you left it.” – Hip-hop star 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, on the theft of his childhood bike 

  “The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.” — Iris Murdoch, ‘The Red and the Green’

  “I hope that cycling in London will become almost Chinese in its ubiquity.” — Boris Johnson, The Guardian, March 18, 2006

  “If you brake, you don’t win.” — Mario Cipollini

  “Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls.” — Bob Weir, Grateful Dead

  “Cyclists…are the gods of the road.” — Actor, Nigel Havers, ‘The Daily Mail’, 13th June 2006 

How to move a bike cargo carriage…here you go.

Classic moment: the man on the sidewalk is about to make a classic mistake, edging to cross the bike path without looking back first. The cyclists had already spotted his naive momentum and anticipated in a way that almost naturally avoided a collision, which is hard to imagine with an untrained eye.

Cars and other traffic respect the nr 1 mode of transportation. They have to, they’re outnumbered…and cyclists themselves.

This is downtown Amsterdam, mind you. Don’t even start with “Oh, that looks dangerous, no helmets!”

SUV (Super Utility Velo) & SUM (Superbly Utilizing Mom).

Left pic: Work never stops, but you look so much cooler answering your phone while biking, stopping on the sidewalk, flipping out your papers and be at total ease. Try that while driving a car. No contest.
Right pic: Mom coasting comfortably with 2 in total Cycle Chic style.

More here.

At one of two lucrative campaign fundraisers in Chicago last night, at the home of a businessman who donates bicycles to charities, Obama explained that he faced a toss-up: Risking ridicule or sending children the right message about bike-gear.

“I had an internal debate,” Obama admitted, when a supporter thanked him for wearing a helmet. “Because I knew that the AP was going to take a picture, and they were trying to portray it like Dukakis wearing that tank helmet.

“But I wanted to make sure that the children who saw that picture knew that even the Democratic nominee for president wears a helmet when he goes biking,” he said to applause. “Now, obviously the rest of my apparel was apparently not up to snuff, because I got a hard time from all sorts of blogs… who said I looked like Urkel.”

Reading the article and the Chicago Tribune ‘blog’ post I cannot help but toss a few suggestions to the president-elect:

• Get a bigger bike, your height begs for it;
• Don’t ride on the side walk, your security detail can cover for ya when you boldly show what’s ‘wrong in this picture’;
• Forget setting an example for kids, because it’s the wrong one, aka;
• Fight/legislate for a better bike infrastructure > culture, so that American citizens will have choice, can stop whining about ‘the dangers of biking’ and your successor won’t ever have to worry about being ridiculed and avid cyclists & the public at large don’t need to endure this sort of sillyness ever again…

Now that would be change I could believe in.

Photo GPD, June 5 2008

Sadly, he’s competing with this monstrosity:

Come on, ‘Holland’, “You coulda had class. You coulda been a contender. You coulda been somebody, instead of a bum.”

From our local newspaper Het Parool: (published from the national press agency ANP)

Tree Root Pressure On Sarphatistraat Dealt With
“Good news for all cyclists who frequently commute via Sarphatistraat. For years they got ‘launched’ by the bump in the road near the Amsterdam-Amstelland Police Academy. As of this week, however, the bump is gone. Finito. Disappeared.

According to Denise Juthan of the Communication Department of the city of Amsterdam, these bumps were caused by ‘root pressure’. The tree roots alongside Sarphatistraat’s bike lane were pushing up the asphalt. Having received many complaints about this over a long period of time, the bigger ‘thorny’ problems are now dealt with. First locally, and next year the smaller bumps will also be taken care of during the city’s ‘general maintenance’ round, putting down all new asphalt.”

Amsterdam Bike Theft Probability Goes Down
AMSTERDAM – Most Amsterdammers won’t risk it anyway. Their brand new bikes will stay indoors and for their commutes downtown their old and rusty bike will do the trick. Yet, the odds for bike theft are declining, municipal research shows.

Transporation official Tjeerd Herrema announced that the risk of having your bike stolen is now hovering at 8 procent. In 2001 that percentage was twice as high. The city counsel is aiming for 6 procent in the next few years. 

According to the counsel, one of the most important means to battle the bike thiefs is the Amsterdamse Fiets Afhandel Centrale (AFAC), roughly translated into ‘Amsterdam Bicycle Processing Center’. All bikes that are removed or found are processed here, registered and referenced whether they have been stolen.

This program has put Amsterdam ahead of the curve, but other cities like Zwolle, Tilburg, IJmond also initiated such a center. Nijmegen is about to start one.

Amsterdam has about 550.000 bikes that are actively used. The AFAC has so far registered, cross-checked and coded 25% of them. Once it’s established a bike was stolen, it will be returned to the rightful owner.

‘British Designated Biker Often Pissed Drunk’ 
AMSTERDAM – Els Iping (Labour Party), chair woman of the City Center Counsel, is declaring war on the Bike Cafe. This vehicle, which can carry 10 to 17 people at a time and enables drinking while biking, will shortly be banned from the city center. According to the chair woman, the riding cafe is causing too much trouble in the inner city of Amsterdam.

Iping decided to intervene after the police had confirmed the increasing number of complaints about loud and drunk British tourists, wobbling into people and traffic.

Their presence in the city is growing, going by the names of The Bike Cafe, The Ladies Bar (my link insertion to my video post) and The Corny Bike Cafe.

Officially, the beer bike is not supposed to be steered under the influence. At least one person in the group needs to be sober. “However”, says Iping, “reality shows us that the British designated biker is also pissed drunk. Even if he/she is not, they are aggravating and hindering other cyclists at an unacceptable level.”

On Iping’s initiative, the Justice Department, police and City Center Counsel have decided to ban the bike cafes.

The bike itself looks comfortable, fast and easy to control, I’d love to go for a spin. I understand the idea for the roof. The company’s also aiming at the US market, so adding this feature would work well both as a sales gimmick and actually have people interested.

Now, let me get back to my own frame of mind. Biking through the rain isn’t fun. Especially during winters. And don’t get me started about how often I’ve cursed Dutch weather, going from A to B. Always at the worst possible time, often accompanied by gusting winds that would make any Amsterdammer blow a fuse.
But…we don’t know any better. Both the intrinsic (DNA) need to bike and the obvious chance of rain (often out of nowhere!) has firmly conditioned us. Mostly, we DON’T whine about it, and we all remember our childhood, when parents would by default say: “You’re not made of sugar!” (As in: it’s only water, you’re not going to disintegrate). Same goes for snow, you just adapt (It’s fun, too).

So, it’s no surprise if I tell you that the Dutch just bike it off. Yeah, you get wet, but you’ll dry up again. Any attempt to keep completely dry is futile, no matter what you do. Sure, without much wind we’ll carry that umbrella, in other cases we’ll put on a raincoat, or even those sweaty plastic trousers, but since it’s all so distracting and cumbersome, we just don’t bother. We don’t ride any less because of it. We just suck it up.

  
Not all the time riding bicycle in Amsterdam is fun, originally uploaded by Kromag.

This is how it works in Amsterdam!, originally uploaded by To Tof.

Girl on bike Amsterdam (B&W), originally uploaded by Heorot2107.

I case you didn’t know…the European Football Championship 2008 kicked off last Saturday in Austria/Switzerland. Football, yes. To a lot of you known as soccer.

The public excitement for this is great, another excuse to party and to feel just a wee bit proud of your country while it lasts. This, of course, unleashes a great deal of commercials, people buying into it just for the hell of it and go nuts. 

Tonight the Dutch team will kick off their championship adventure against Italy (current World Champions), which I’m sure will generate a lot of emotions in many public establishments in Amsterdam. 

So, if you love football and some party mayhem and you are not allergic to the colour orange, stick around. If you don’t…run.

Update: I’m speechless…we won 3-0!!!! …and I’m drunk, now.

Some pics I took when I biked to Cafe The Barking Fish:

Cafe Thijssen terrace on Lindengracht, Jordaan

Cafe The Barking Fish on Westerstraat, Jordaan