23 April 2008

Bike Culture Buddha

Smooth Metal Surfaces
A little urban detail that is oft overlooked or even unnoticed in Copenhagen is the metal on the poles at traffic lights.

As the Copenhagener in the photo illustrates, it is often easier to just lean against the walk signal pole while waiting for the light.

So many people do it that the metal on all the poles along bike lanes at intersections is worn and smooth from hundreds of thousands of hands.

A bike culture version of rubbing the Buddha's tummy.

Nocturnal
The nocturnal life of bicycles in Copenhagen. A quiet Tuesday evening. John Arne Riise's own goal was an anti-climax and riding home was a mute affair. Until a poetic sight presented itself in the urban night.
Urban Crossing
Crossing over to the far side to hop onto her bike on the bike lane. Fashion-wise, the trend this winter of having double-up stockings in boots - with one pair just sticking up over the boots - is still going strong, but now that spring is here, it will interesting to see if it survives the warmer temperatures.

3 comments:

my hyggelig said...

HI. I just found this blog today whilst drinking my morning coffee looking for Dutch bikes. Can't wait to read more when I return from work tonight. Thanks for a nice blog! If only I could look that chic on a bike in Minneapolis when it was 90 degrees and humid!

Cold Calling Guru Jeff Stevenson said...

Hi. Please join the Bicycle to Work! LinkedIn networking group. Members pledge that they will try to ride their bicycle to work or on an errand at least once a week. Although the benefits should be obvious, let me outline them here.
Right now people in the industrialized world are facing two very grave problems: obesity and a growing scarcity of oil. Compounding this problem is the new food shortage brought about, in part, by the conversion of food cropland to bio-fuel crop production. Most people feel powerless to help, but there is one thing that we can do. Ride our bicycles to work.
If everyone would agree to ride their bikes to work one day per week we could cut oil consumption by as much as 10-15%. No one would argue that riding a bike burns more calories than driving the car. Although popular politically right now, most bio-fuels consume more energy than they produce. We would be much better to eat those bio-crops then use our own energy to transport us around.
So spread the word. Make it a movement! Bicycle to work one day a week and do your part to cut back obesity and the overuse of oil and precious cropland.
Just go to my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylstevenson and you can click on the group to be included. While you are there, don't forget to ask to link to my network of more than 7,000.000 like-minded professionals. I accept all invitations and look forward to meeting you.
Jeff

Colville-Andersen said...

hey sigrid... thanks for the comment. if millions of European women can do it in the heat and humidity, so can you! :-)

thanks for the invite, jeff!