Bike Shares Around the Republic, Part I

Barcelona's bicing

We did a tour for a wonderfully attentive and sharp group of visitors from Washington, D.C. earlier this week.  From the Summit Foundation's Sustainable Cities program they were researching and experiencing, well, sustainable cities.  Bike share systems of course play a role and got us thinking, what is it, in the simplest explanation, that makes bike share such A Good Thing.

Copenhagen's City Bike

Boiled down to one easy phrase, it redemocratises the bicycle.  It brings the bicycle back to the city's residents.  It boldly reintroduces the bicycle as urban transport. This is one of the key points in Mikael's keynote, "Four Goals for Promoting Urban Cycling," and features in much of our work at Copenhagenize.

Velib in Paris

Business men and women, Chic'sters, hipsters, going about their daily business with a little two-wheeled help.  No wonder we like it so much.

dublinbikes

Moving people and furniture.  One Montreal Bixi at a time.

Dublin Cycle Chic

Copenhagenize was recently in Dublin on business.  Between meetings there was plenty of time for seeing the streets and people of Dublin.

Pretty certain this girl is riding the same bicycle as the gentleman in the first image.  Coincidence? Funkalicious new leopard print bike share bikes?

Looks like baskets beat out front racks in Dublin.

This shot from an earlier trip to launch Dublin Cycle Chic. Here you can see a film from the fashion show.  Chances are you'll be seeing a few more photos like the one above as today kicks off Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Cycling Symphonies in Dublin

Our friends at Bear Bicycles in Dublin, in association with the Dutch Embassy, put on a series of lovely guerilla concerts in the Irish capital with the Dutch choir Koor de Stemming. On bicycles, of course. In their finest dress, of course. Cycle Chic with a glorious soundtrack. Read more over at the Dutch in Dublin blog.

Dublin's Cycling Chic Ladies

Here are some more shots from the streets and bike lanes of Dublin. It was amazing to see how many were cycling on the two days I was there. There are many bike lanes in place and people were using them. It helps that the city implemented 30 km/h zones in many areas, to keep the motorized traffic slow and civilised.

Enjoy the beautiful people of Dublin on their bicycles.

Dutch Couple in Dublin

I met this Dutch couple at the Cycle Chic Fashion Show in Dublin. Dressed to the nines and riding sensible upright bicycles. Actually, the girl is importing Dutch-made bicycles called Bear Bicycles From Amsterdam. Just started. Keep your eyes peeled on the streets of the Irish capital.


They were kind enough to loan this Danish Bicycle Ambassador one of the bicycles for the ride to the post-fashion show party at the Residence club.


Which meant, of course, that he doubled her for the journey.

Gentlemen Cyclists of Dublin

Like I've said, what Dublin is doing to encourage Citizen Cyclists to ride is amazing. Dublin was once the third great cycling city in Europe, after Copenhagen and Amsterdam, back in the day.

As we can see here in this shot from 1961. By all accounts, Dublin is returning to the mainstream cycling fold.

Here's a series of Gentlemen Cyclists in Dublin. Suits abound, ladies.

Dublin Cycle Chic - Ellen and Conor

As you all know, the trip to Dublin was a smashing success. What stunned me, though, was the amazing numbers of Citizen Cyclists on the streets. When I travel to other cities I'm ready with the camera from the word go, prepared to capture any Cycle Chic shot, however rare. In Dublin, I could relax. There was loads of material.

Above are two fine examples. Ellen brought her dad, Conor, to the Cycle Chic fashion show at city hall. We chatted outside afterwards and they obliged me with a photograph.

Brilliant examples of Dublin Cycle Chic! Great to meet you, Ellen and Conor! Dublin is the Great Bike Hope, indeed.

Cycle Chic Goes to Dublin!

What an epic night I had in Dublin a couple of weeks ago. Dublin Cycle Chic Fashion Show kicked off at the splendid City Hall with a fashion show. The good people at Irish department store Arnotts supplied the clothes and top stylist Paula Hughes whipped up a feast for the eyes with the combination of cool clothes and cool Danish bikes - Biomega and Velorbis - as well as Dublin city bikes.

Bicycle advocacy 2.0.


The models were brilliant and they rolled in and out in smashing ensembles. Well done them.

Men in suits were present, as well, as they are at any dapper bicycle event. The Danish Ambassador to Ireland, Niels Pultz gave Ciaran Cuffe - Minister of State with special responsibility for sustainable transport - a ride on a Christiania bike and I was given the pleasure to address the crowd before the kick off.









See the whole series of photos from the fashion show on Flickr as a slideshow!

Thanks to everyone for a brilliant night in Dublin! And remember to enter the Dublin Cycle Chic photo competition over at Flickr.

Dublin Cycle Chic - The Movie

The Velo-City 2010 conference has ended and life returns to normal. I now have time to catch up on some important stuff. Here's a little film made by Dublin City Council about the Dublin Cycle Chic fashion show ten days ago in the Irish capital.

What a town. What a cycling town! Dublin was once one of the great cycling cities of the world. She's well on her way to returning. The bicycle is back and the fact that the City Council and National government supported our Cycle Chic event, along with the Royal Danish embassy is a fantastic, promising sign.

There was also a nice article in the Irish Times about the event.

WIN A BIOMEGA BICYCLE!
At the event we launched another photo competition. Upload your best Cycle Chic photos to the Dublin Cycle Chic Flickr group and on July 31, 2010 we'll pick the best one and reward the Cycle Chicness with a Boston bicycle from iconic Danish bike brand Biomega.

Dublin Cycle Chic Teaser

I was in Dublin last week and it was brilliant. I was amazed at the number of cyclists on the streets. What an amazing city for cycling. Here's a little teaser about what is to come.

The Velo-City Global bicycle conference just kicked off today in Copenhagen. I have a keynote speech tomorrow and have been super busy.

I'll be back shortly.

Dublin Cycle Chic Winners!

by Flickr user Lily-Heidi.

The Dublin Cycle Chic party is on Wednesday and, as promised, I've chosen five photographs from the Flickr group as winners of two tickets each.

I'll send a Flickr mail to the photographers. Congratulations! And thanks to everyone for participating. But don't put down the cameras just yet. We're announcing another competition on Wednesday evening.

In no particular order, here's all the photos.

By Cian Ginty.


By Flickr user Markemcmullan.


By Hamley Foxx.


By Flickr user jspruitiii.

Dublin Cycle Chic Countdown

We're only days away from the Dublin Cycle Chic bash in... well... Dublin. Next Wednesday we'll be kicking off at City Hall with a gorgeous fashion show. We had Isabelle, pictured, out on a photo call last week with one of the new Dublin bike share bikes. Classic Cycle Chic.

On Monday I'll be choosing some winners in the Dublin Cycle Chic Flickr Group and dishing out tickets to the Wednesday event. There's still loads of time to submit your photos. And, at the fashion show, I'll announce a competition where you can win a Biomega bike.

The fashion show will feature Ireland's top stylist, Paula Hughes and she's teamed up with Ireland's largest department store, Arnott's. In true Cycle Chic style, it's all about gorgeous clothes and cool bicycles. Not a thread of 'cycling clothes' or whatever it is people are selling these days.

Here are some of the press mentions in the Irish press about the event, although it must be said that the Cycle Chic fashion show is just one of many great events during National Bike Week in the country.

Get yer photos into the Flickr Group! Boy, am I looking forward to getting myself to Dublin on Wednesday.

Welcome to Bicycle Advocacy 2.0. In true Cycle Chic style.