These late summer balmy days are intoxicating and flirtacious in their un-Nordicness. The summer lingers on and Copenhageners aren't complaining. On the Cycle Chic calender for 2009 the text for September reads:
September is a lottery, although with good odds for warm days as we gently glide towards autumn. It is relaxing and while we resigned to the inevitable fact that the seasons will change, we enjoy the tail end of summer while we can.
Another series of Tokyo Chic Chic brilliance from Stephen Crawford.
From the looks of it, everything's all white in Tokyo these days. The fashionistas of the city go hand in hand with the thriving bicycle culture. Style over speed, indeed.
Dublin has now joined the growing league of cities that can boast a bike share system. Let's hope that it brings out the style. These photos from The Irish Times show that Dubliners are off to a good start. Read more in this Irish Times article. Thanks to Doireann for the link!
...to park. Not everybody does a good job at it. The white bike to the left seems to be parked by a rather parking challenged person, but often bypassers will just move a misplaced bike to a more appropriate place. Usually no big deal.
I've always felt that using a bicycle to get around really makes you feel like you're a part of your city on a whole different level. Glancing off to the left at something or someone, glancing off to the right to see the harbour. You name it. You're out in the open and the city embraces you.
Heading towards the city one morning. The weather has been nice so flip-flops are still a popular choice around the city. And don't worry, that cyclist is in her own lane. I really wish I'd see more of this. In the Red Light Posture Series, I called this posture "Classic Grace". This was standard Red Light Posture for ladies back in the day. Elegant and graceful. You hop off your bicycle with the step-through frame and place one foot on the pedal, ready to go.
The sticker on the bike lane reads "Watch out for blind angles", reminding cyclists of the blind spots that large trucks have when turning. A nice, friendly reminder. No, they're not slippery. The City of Copenhagen takes good care of us.
The Copenhagener atop the sticker has a grass mat in her basket, leading us to believe that she is returning from the beach in the lovely late summer weather. She is practicing the Copenhagen Straddle from the Red Light Posture Series to perfection.
Simple, really. I pointed the camera out the window for 45 minutes one morning. From about 08:00. It was mostly for my own anthropological aims, but I figured I'd whip it into a film. It's long - 14 min - but I put some nice music on. Four different tracks. And here's the funny thing. The vast variety of citizens on bicycles here is always amazing. All age and wage brackets. Truly universal.
Which cyclist reflects who you are or how you ride - or you would ride if you did? Maybe not everyone can see themselves reflected in the Copenhagen bicycle culture but I'll bet that many can. There's over 420 to choose from.
Watch the film and let us know in the comments. I think I'm a combination of the chap at the front at 3:39 and the chap at 5:10.
While you're at it, here's some fun. Watch out for the following: - A big bouquet of flowers in the basket. - Someone eating an apple. - Some reading on their bike - A postman Music: The Cardigans - You're the Storm / Tina Dickow - Room With a View / Mireille Matheiu - Les bicyclettes de belsize / Ibens - Jeg savner min blå blå cykel [I miss my blue, blue bicycle]
If any of you are in the neighbourhood of Pardubice, in the Czech Republic, on the 16th of September, I'll be speaking about Copenhagen's bicycle culture there. In addition, a series of my photographs will adorn the lampposts of the city throughout European Mobility Week.
