"biking In High Heels" | Lets Go Girl

May 17, 2008 by Kingston

Another brilliant painting by Janet Karam, inspired by one of my photos. Art imitates art once again. This one was inspired by this photo:

Janet's Blog.
Janet's website - Funkytown Art.

Taking a literary angle, Inge in Antwerpen has a Dutch literature blog called Plankje Ongeregeld and she interviewed me for a new feature on her blog - Bloggers Read and Tell. Now I'm looking forward to photos/reportage about her and her new black Oma bike. :-)

Michael in Brooklyn has a cool blog started up. Drunk and In Charge of a Bicycle. Michael and his roommates have been discussing getting cool 'normal' bikes and they are all casting themselves into the fray. Michael had a poll on his blog about what bike his should buy. Either an Azor Opa [some Dutch contraption] or a Velorbis Churchill [bespoke Danish elegance and exquisite design]. Needless to say, the Velorbis won the Euro-challenge.

Michael will be posting about his new bike and his travels in NYC as they happen. He is also compiling a list of dealers/distributors for various European-style bikes in the States, which should come in handy for those of you who are in the market for one.

We have a backlog of guest photos itching to get online so we'll start with another photo from Patrick in Portland. Pure Copenhagen.
Posted in "bike art", "biking in high heels", "guest photo", finntastic, funkytown art, other blogs | Comments (0)

SPRINGTIME CARGO AND SUPERMUMS AND DADS

May 8, 2008 by Kingston

Mother, mother, child/grandchild. Together in the Copenhagen bike culture.
Enjoying the segregated bike lanes that are the hallmark of any healthy, progressive and safety-oriented bike culture.

Vive les supermums [et superdads] du Copenhague!

This is Copenhagen. An elderly citizen on the right, and a supermum on the left in a Copenhagen springtime cycling outfit: short skirt, smashing red heels and a handbag on the handlebars of the Nihola cargo bike.

Much is said about the supermums of Copenhagen, but the superdads are rather groovy, too. Myself included... :-)

Giraffe transportation.
Posted in "bike lane", "biking in high heels", "biking in skirts or dresses", "cargo bike", nihola, springtime | Comments (0)

SKIRTING THE SQUARE

May 6, 2008 by Kingston

It's May and it's lovely. Sunshine and warm temperatures are gracing the Danish capital. Copenhageners ride to work in the mornings without jackets. Skirts are out in force. Springtime is lovelytime on the City Hall Square and these Copenhageners show us just how elegant bike culture can be.

Posted in "biking in high heels", "biking in skirts or dresses", springtime | Comments (0)

COPENHAGEN TRANSPORT COMBINATIONS

May 5, 2008 by Kingston

Sometimes situations arise where you have to transport your bike by other means. A flat tyre or other technical difficulties, a destination just a bit too far, what have you.

Being able to combine your bike with public transport is an important part of bike culture. In Copenhagen you can take your bike onto the Metro, the local trains, the regional trains and the Intercity Express trains. You'll need a ticket for your bike - 10 kroner for local journeys - which is half the price of a regular ticket.

Every train station in the land has an elevator for bikes, prams and the elderly. And if you're travelling abroad by train, you'll have no logistic problems with getting to anywhere in Northern Europe with your bike. Popping down to Berlin for the weekend by train? No problem.

Waiting for the Metro to glide to a stop.

Busses, on the other hand, don't have any bike racks on them like in a few other countries. This is because most bus journeys cover the same routes as bike journeys, so there is simply no need. It's quicker and easier by bike.

If you need to get your bike somewhere by taxi, all taxis in the nation are equipped with bike rack to accomodate two bikes. This costs 10 kroner extra, too. A small price to pay for convienence. It is, however, ironic that all taxis in Copenhagen are brand new Mercedes. But man, those leather seats are lovely once in a while.

Sometimes, however, you can't be bothered to wait for the elevator. If there isn't that many people around, just pop it onto the escalator.

Travelling from one city to another on the Intercity trains merely craves a little bit of muscle to get the bike onboard.

Just roll up to the ticket machine and buy your tickets.

Rising to the surface with his bike.

Heading down to the Copenhagen Metro with style.

Heading up from the Copenhagen Metro in style.

Bike racks on trains and taxis.
Posted in "bikes on trains", "biking in boots", "biking in high heels" | Comments (0)

CYCLE CHIC GOES TO SWEDEN

May 4, 2008 by Kingston

Zipping across Stora Torg [Large Square] in the Malmö sunshine.

Malmö is Sweden's third largest city and it Sweden's leading bike city. Bikes are an important part of life here, just as they are in dozens and dozens of European cities. While we will go to our grave claiming that Copenhagen is the most stylish capital in Europe, Malmö does have it's flashes of cycle chic.

Most importantly, the citizens have understood, like millions of others around the world, that urban cycling is something to be done in your normal clothes and on normal bikes. There are great segregated bike lanes and infrastructure and bikes abound in bike racks all over the city.