Posts Tagged ‘bike’
Simple (and Beautiful) Acts of Vandalism
Swedish street artist: “The act is the beauty.”
Riding in the Rain
Video shoot today with Red Reel Video, which entailed bikes, puddles and a pair of red heels. That’s the way to do it.
Urban Portland in the rain is a beautiful thing. Brick walls and cobblestone alleyways. Spontaneous sun breaks paired with downpour. Drivers slowing down to stare at four ladies in silly outfits laughing from their cycling antics.
I road home in a downpour. Drenched. Water dripping off my bare hands.
I attacked every puddle, spraying water up to my face.
Pure bliss.
Friday Photo: Mexican Bike
Walk five minutes in the opposite direction of tequila tastings and persistent questioning, “Taxi? Mexican boyfriend?” and you’re immediately swept into everyday life of this city. The streets are narrow, the colors are faded by the sun and doors stay open as if welcoming you in to the heart of the families that call this place home. As you walk, you smile at everyone you cross. They return the gesture, an emanating warmth that you don’t get at home, particularly not in the dreary weather of late fall.
The lone bicycle stands propped against the wall. A basic addition to a colorful street. Its owner is no where to be found, but it’s not locked. Just sitting, waiting to be taken out for a spin.
Words to Live By: Bikes
“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
More great bike quotes here.
The Bike-Thru
Love this idea so much I had to cross-post from my Foodie Underground column over on EcoSalon:
The drive-thru: an iconic institution fueled by the American spirit to hit the open road. But in this day and age, drive-thrus have become synonymous with unhealthy lifestyle habits, both because of the food they serve and the mode of transportation used to get there. But what if the food was good, and getting access to it promoted sustainable living habits?
In Madison, a restaurateur is looking to open an eating space that’s anything but a drive-thru; he wants to launch a bike-thru, accessible only by two wheels. The Wisconsin capital is already known for its cycling culture, in fact it’s currently ranked the nation’s #7 city for biking, and Chris Berge thinks it would be the optimal spot for what he calls a “bike-in” bar and grill. The proposed restaurant would be built on the city’s Southwest Commuter Path, making it inaccessible by car, and commit to serving local food, and producing zero garbage. He’d also make it a great place for riders to get a quick rest stop, with bathrooms, a fountain for filling water bottles and a bicycle repair service station.
Although the restaurant hasn’t been officially proposed yet, the idea has already garnered the support of the mayor of Madison, Dave Cieslewicz. “I think it’s fascinating idea,” Cieslewicz said. Be it a love for good, local food or a passion for two-wheeled transport, the idea has the potential to take off in other cities as well.
Friday Photo: Brooklyn Cruiser
NYC cycling is its own special thing. Stop signs don’t really count as stop signs, stop lights are merely for good measure and even designated bike lanes aren’t really like bike lanes in any other city; at least people believe in helmets. But that’s what makes riding in the city fun.
Ringing the bell incessantly as you cross the Brooklyn Bridge and having to maneuver around children flying by on wooden trikes. Dodging tourists in Chinatown with that smell of outdoor markets and produce hanging in the air that’s reminiscent of previous visits to Asia. Raising your hand in disgust at the drivers completely oblivious to the fact that a bicycle was ever invented. But on two wheels, the big city feels manageable, even more friendly. Which is why you keep ringing the bell.
Guerilla Knitting, Cycle Style
Came across this on my last trip to Stockholm. There are several guerilla knitting groups in Sweden and in the US — it’s a popular form of eco-graffiti — and I always love finding their pieces hidden in the urban landscape.
Why I Choose to Ride a Bike
This has been making its way around the internet for quite some time now, but after an overwhelming amount of news this week about the real threats of climate change, I’m even happier about my choice of bicycle over car.
blog.annabrones.com 