Look Out for Cargo Ladies

Three-wheeled cargo bikes with ladies by the handlebars are a familiar sight in Copenhagen – they are the perfect solution for urbanites wanting to drop the kids off at nursery or simply after attacking the local shopping mall during the weekend. Cargo bikes give you freedom to move and bring the stuff that you need in your everyday life without any problem. Moreover, the infrastructure in Copenhagen is designed wide enough to provide the space for cargo bikes, so you never feel unwelcome. 

Cargo bike with the kid and the dog inside. Why not. 

Cycle track wide enough to ride along with your older child and while the youngest is still inside the cargo bike.

Catching the sunlight together is the best way.

In other cities you would probably see these people in the car. Not in Copenhagen.

There are no excuses. You can look elegant and chic also while riding cargo bike.

These ladies look as good as people taking public transport, car or walking. Urban cycling, even with cargo bikes, is an everyday activity that does not limit you from dressing up nicely. You can cycle and still look pretty, be healthy and overall happy. You can pick up your kids from school or go grocery shopping. Cargo bike is the right choice when it comes to mobility in the city!!!

Happy Cycling!

Fur Queen on a Cargo Bike

      

We've talked about the powerful aspects of a woman on a cargo bike. The reasons are endless. This woman, however, left us speechless. This woman rode her Christiania bike in a timeless manner. She could be dressed purposely 80s style or it could be an unintentional, retro embrace. She carried colors that blend in the urban landscape, but a face that sparks beyond what is happening around her, you can tell she's done this before. She rides pondering, as if not caring about the impression she leaves behind, and still it is an impecable one. An impecable impression with a sense of enigma. For this is what cycle chic strives for when hunting for content: unique simplicity carried when riding everyday from A-to-B.

Happy cycling, everyone!

Cycle Chic Polaroids

Motion in the urban landscape.

In an urban world where people travel on two wheels without metal shields blocking out oxygen or interaction, the urban landscape is much more raw. We are all exposed to one another. Our emotions, scents and priorities can be received from a mile away. Who we are is shared with all who spontaneously or intentionally moves next to us in the public space. Cycle Chic is about capturing this rawness, the simplicity of what people do on the streets, accompanied by their bicycles of course. We thought an accurate way to project the uniqueness of danish society was through Polaroid pictures, a raw medium that cannot be edited, duplicated or forgotten. Here's a set of four 600 film polaroid photos shot in a chilly, autumn afternoon with a 1988 Cool Cam. 

Kid in the back, no problem!

Three wheels and three humans. That's one neat, cosmic cargo bicycle!

Number 200. 

She's holding her new born close and pushing the oldest on the cargo bike, beautiful.

Happy Cycling!

Cargo Bikes and Kids

Even with 40,000 cargo bikes in Copenhagen, most cargo bike action involving kids takes place in the neighbourhoods, where families live close to the schools. 26% of all Copenhagen families with two or more kids have a cargo bike. It's the Copenhagen version of the SUV.

There are cargo bikes with kids in the morning rush hour however. Here are a few of them. Just a kid reading a book on their way to school.

Viking Biking in Black and White

Cargo bike headwind.

Overtaking.

Portraits of cyclists: the trio - «I did not want an individual bike»

«Do you carry your friends often?»

«Yes, he does. We do garbage hunting sometimes together. Actually, the idea behind the Christiania bike was to open a mobile candy shop. Finally, we did not do it.»

«Now, we want to put up a sound system in the bike.»

«It's fun to cycle while talking to someone sitting in the front.»

«I did not want an individual bike, I wanted it look like a Volkswagen van».

More pictures of Copenhagen every day on Byliv in CPH.

You Can't Describe Copenhagen Living Without Saying The Word 'Bicycle'. Ever.

Nothing stops us cycling in Copenhagen... from Grit Tind on Vimeo.

So here's a short film that I made with a crazy and talented group of friends studying Performance Design at RUC University, Denmark. We just wanted to depict what it's actually like cycling around the beautiful city of Copenhagen (even on a grey day!)

We thought to be on the safe side by filming this during August when the weather was warm and wonderfully sunny but of course, according to Sod's Law, on the actual day of filming it rained so so hard! We persisted anyway because at the end of the day, whether it rains or even snows, the reality is that Copenhageners will cycle through anything - "Sådan er det...!" (That's just how it is!)

Enjoy!

Over and Out!

K.E.G. x

Christania All The Way...

We're trying to make every minute count in what seems to be left over of the summer. Best way to see the city is to hitch a ride with a friend. The Christania bike making this wonderful expedition possible. Here's a look of how to make best use of these rides.


Surely there's room for one more...


May I say the coolest and scariest boombox bike ever. Sick (In British English = Awesome.)


Taken from Svajerløb'13 over the weekend. Someone's lucky enough to have creative parents!

Wishing everyone an awesome (sick) weekend!

Over and Out!

K.E.G. x

Caught in the Rain? Pedal faster!

Okay weird August weather: if ya gonna rain, then commit! None of these odd spells where it's full on for five minutes and then dry for another twenty...you're catching out our Copenhageners! I mean what are we meant to wear? Geez...

This Copenhagen Rasta is keeping dry, for now...


Ah! The rains caught one!


Yes, getting wet's no fun...but cheer up, at least your mod-inspired outfit looks great!

Okay, so what if it begins to rain. Wear your favourite outfit and just work the 'wet-hair' look? Hmmm...nah, forget it. Bring that umbrella!

Over and Out!

K.E.G. x

Got Stuff To Get Around? Pfff...No Worries!

Got a gig to get to? No worries, swing it on your back and off you go!


Moving house? No worries, just throw in those final bits and bobs into your Christania bike.


Recent trip to Ikea? No worries, hook up a trailer to the back of your bike.


Running a small business? No worries, the bike can carry all your goods and equipment! Think of all the pennies you save on petrol...

Cycling. Still the best way to get your stuff around town! Well in Copenhagen at least...

...And CycleLogistics have just launched their Shop by bike campaign in Copenhagen, one of the twelve European cities that are taking part in an effort to get more Europeans, well, to get their shopping done by bike!

As part of the campaign CycleLogistics are running a photo competition to get Copenhageners to send in pictures of themselves carrying the most impressive load or some of the weirdest items!

For more info or to enter check out Shop by bike KBH Facebook Page

Want more info on CycleLogistics? Click Here


Over and Out!

K.E.G. x

All Aboard!

Throw your best friends in your Christania bike and ride on!


Copenhagen mums are just too cool for school.


The lucky ones who get to balance on the bicycle back rack whilst their friend does all the hard work! Oh the easy life...


And this is why I love Christania bikes!

Over and Out!

K.E.G. x

Do Danes Make Good Friends?

Just like the rest of Europe the sun is strong in Copenhagen and everyone seems to be back from their holidays!
First thing to do? Catchup with friends.
What makes a good friend? Someone who's there to get you places when you just can't seem to get there yourself.
Stylish mini-ambulance.
"Pick it up, woman...got places to be!"


Just a shout out to all my Copenhagen friends - you guys are rockin' my summer!

Over and out!

K.E.G. x

Team Love

Last weekend the annual Svajerløb - Danish Cargo Bike Championship was hosted at the old Carlsberg Brewery.  Along with the usual suspects, we had a few surprise guests.  Birte, the lovely bride-to-be, and her girlfriends were heading out, via cargo bike, for her bachelorette party.  The Svajerløb, traditionally a race for bragging rights among the city's most daring bicycle messengers, seemed like an obvious stop for them.

While Birte and her girlfriends didn't take home any medals for their speed, they took first place for Love.  And the lovely bride-to-be did the honors of presenting the medals - Tour de France style.
Congratulations Birte!

More on the history of Copenhagen's bike messengers from Copenhagenize.com

Cycle Chic Super Cargo Dads

It's quiet in Copenhagen at the moment, during the three weeks of summer holidays. The numbers of bicycle users heading to and from work are still mind-blowing to visitors but it is clear to those of us that live here that most of the nation are holidaying at home, in their summer houses or off travelling.


Cargo bikes and Copenhagen are like a hand and a glove. With 40,000 cargo bikes in the city you're certain to see them everywhere. In the summer holidays the pace slows. Kids don't have to be transported off to kindergarten or school but cargo bikes still fulfill an important role. There are still beaches or museums to be visited, playgrounds to be explored.

Denmark is one of the countries in the world with the greatest level of gender equality. It's not just in business or politics - out of the eight polictical parties, four have female leaders, including the Prime Minister - but in everyday life. A simple phrase from other societies like "soccer mom", for example, seems rather odd and archaeic. We're just soccer parents.

We hear, however, the same thing from cargo bike brands and bike shops. When a young family is discussing getting a cargo bike, it tends to be the mother who calls the shots regarding brand, accessories, etc. Nevertheless, the bike becomes The Family Bike when it rolls out of the shop, as you can see in this article. Superdads just getting on with it. Rolling kids around the city.

Given our involvement in the European Cyclelogistics project, we have cargo bikes on the brain at the moment here at our offices. So here goes.


At left: Here are my kids napping on the way home from the beach on our Bullitt.
At right: My boy and two friends on our old Longjohn.






Christiania Bikes in action.







Nihola Bikes do their thang.


In Ljubljana and Montreal, too.




Bullitts from Larry vs Harry.


A no-name brand at left and an Winther Kangaroo at right. The flag reads "Go, Mum!" and they were riding alongside his wife as she ran the Copenhagen Marathon.

The iconic Triobike.


Bakfiets from the Netherlands.

Sorte Jernhest (means Black Iron Horse). The one on the right is available for residents to borrow from various locations around the city.

Then again... kids are doin' it for themselves.