Operating your cell phone while zipping down the bike lanes seem to a basic skill around here. The girls/women in particular are masters of this refined bit of multitasking. The fact that these two shots were taken only 30 seconds apart, speaks something of how common this practice is.
Speaking of basic skills: For those who are just entering cycle chic-ness, we have the excellent Traffic Playground (Trafiklegepladsen). A scaled down street scenario, complete with traffic lights and road signs. The little ones love it, as you may sense from this shot of Olga. Three wheel chic chick :-)
That's impressive and all, but I hear that in Amsterdam women blowdry their hair using the dynamo as a power supply. Your women have some serious catching up to do!
ReplyDeleteRecently, reporters at the New York Times did a detailed series of articles on driving while talking or texting on mobile devices. The series was astonishing and scary.
ReplyDeleteIn scientific studies, taking and texting drivers had only a fraction of their normal driving ability due to the distraction of conversation - even though most of them believed they were still totally in control.
The series also highlighted a number of horrific accidents and reprehensible people who killed or maimed and still keep on talking and texting.
I realize cyclists are traveling at much lower speeds, and piloting less deadlier vehicles. Still, I'm wondering if accidents caused by talking/texting cyclists has ever been an issue in Copenhagen.
The young lady in the first photo is wearing, well, ya know, lycra cycle racing tights.
ReplyDeleteThe young lady in the last photo clearly isn't, but might well be riding with SPD feet for all I know.
Other than that she's adorable.
@Sean, they're more an annoyance than a hazard. They go slow enough that no-one's hurt if they cycle into you, but they're completely distracted.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see on the first picture, keeping to the right is optional, so overtaking them is also somewhat dangerous. You could argue that there are worse places to be stuck in traffic, than behind a beautiful woman, but I must admit, at times it is tiresome.
There's no comparison to a texting cardriver, though.
SPD feet? (in previous comment) Anyone know what that means? Care to share?
ReplyDelete/Melbourne
I havn´t even found it to be an annoyance. People on bikes can be distracted for a million reasons. If I want to make sure there is room for me to ride by them, I just ring my bell. That is why we have bells.
ReplyDelete@William: I am not sure what you mean about keeping to the right is optional. the girl in the first shot is clearly keeping to the right in her light blue bike lane as she is crossing the road (at green light). The girl in the third shot is not keeping to the right, but we will work on that in the future. ;-)
If we try that in Belgium, the cops bust us. Just like it's not allowede to use your cell phone in your car, it's not allowed to use it on your bike. For the exact same reasons. No discrimination there, for once.
ReplyDeleteSPD feet.
ReplyDeleteSlender, pedicured, dandy.
@anonymous /Melbourne, SPD is what Shimano calls their clipless pedals. I beleive it stands for Shimano Pedaling Dynamics. Although I much prefer Mikael's explanation.
ReplyDeleteFor Anonymous of Melbourne
ReplyDeleteSPD is Shimano Pedaling Dynamics (see here), but I think Mikael's version is better... ;-)
Coaster brakes/foot brakes are great, you can brake without using your hands.
ReplyDeleteVery cute kiddie pictures. And the adults are cute too!
Oddly enough, I prefer Mikael's explanation as well.
ReplyDeleteCycling in Leather cant be good for chafing surely! :-)
ReplyDeleteFashion rules over practicality!
Anything you can walk in... you can cycle in.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
People are known to do stuff in leather you don´t even want to know about ;-) (sorry, could not resist.)
ReplyDelete