More penny farthings…

Another penny farthing day. I love these sweet little bikes in the same way I love small animals. And since my last post about them, I’m noticing even more around. Enjoy.

The 'Gentus' model from Arbant...

…and her rider.

'Beauty every day'

Quote of the Day: An All-in-One Medicine

Via David Hembrow’s enlightening blog, from the Dutch book “Cycling as Medicine”:

[abridged] “Obesity, heart disease, diabetes and depression are at the top of the list of preventable problems. They cause much personal harm and result in high healthcare costs. But there is already an all-in-one medicine available: the bike.

“In this book, normal people relate how cycling makes them healthier and experts put the medical value of the bicycle in plain language, both for prevention and cure.”

Elements of (Youth) Style

Young Seoulites seem to have a yen for the freedom and fun that bicycles bring. Here are some young trendsetters. Unfortunately, it’s also kinda clear in these photos that humans are still but many islands in a sea of traffic and tarmac here.)

Sit-up and… enjoy the world more

Gliding on tiny wheels, and keeping her wits about her

Not just trendy but sociable too

Not so trendy, but super practical - his umbrella at the ready

Korean fashion sense meets American bike sense

Nice yellow bike, nice leather saddle... but the flip flops make it

Bicycles mean Business

Quote from an editorial in New York’s The Villager last December (via Carectomy):

[M]y former restaurant — Florent, on Gansevoort St. — did very well when people could park. It did better when people couldn’t park. And when traffic came to a standstill because of the nightlife, it was packed.

New York is not so different from London, Paris and other cities. If you make it attractive to people — i.e. pedestrians — they will find their way and come en masse. Businesses will flourish.

Two's company.

Best way through the traffic.

Sociable transport - feet & bicycle.

Breezing to work in the sunshine...

... past less actively enjoyable options.

A very bicycle day in the Korean press

Ferreted away in the business pages in the Korean papers last week was this intrguing headline:

Bicycles lead charge in green stock boom

According to Korea Exchange, the average per-share price of bicycle-related stocks has soared by 223.5 percent from the end of December, highest among the 15 most popular stocks. … The share price of Samchuly, the largest and oldest bicycle maker of the country, surged by 392.8 percent over the past six months.

And in similar news:

Insurance for cyclists relaunched

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance yesterday relaunched its insurance policy for cyclists.The insurance product covering bicycle accidents had been sold until 1997, but was dropped from the market as the popularity of cycling declined.

With bicycles playing a key part in President Lee Myung-bak’s “green growth” strategy, the popularity of bicycles has risen again, which has in turn caught the attention of insurers.

And it seems we’re hearing the same complaint as everywhere else:

[EDITORIAL] Roads for walking

President Lee Myung-bak asks people to use more bicycles as part of his “low carbon, green growth” policies, but the problem is that the nation is virtually devoid of roads where people can safely walk or ride bikes.

The government has continued to make huge investments in the construction of highways [and] must face strong influences from the auto industry, the world’s fifth largest.

Koreans both in cities and the countryside no longer have safe places to walk, as all available road space has been taken up by moving and parked cars. As much as they yearned to drive their own cars in the past, people now want to have more time free from the noise, fumes and confinement of motor vehicles. High oil prices are prompting people to reject their cars.

Positive bike news from Britain

News via BikeBiz.com:

CTC: Cyclist numbers in the UK highest in 17 years

Cycling increased 12 per cent from 2007 to 2008 and cycling deaths fell to 115 from 136 – its second lowest level ever.

OK, still a loooong way to go, but it’s a start. The more people who get around by bike, the more people will follow the social trend and give it a go, and the more likely your local councillors will do something to improve bike conditions in your area.

And here’s the most positive big-name news I’ve heard on the bike front in a while:

Asda launches £70 and £50 not-for-profit bikes

The promotion is to highlight Pedal Power, an Asda initiative “to get more Brits on their bikes by making cycling more accessible to all” via support of Bike Club, the CTC’s new community programme.

Asda has brought tens of thousands of the bikes.
A company statement said: “[Asda] will not be making a penny from the sales, such is the supermarket’s commitment to getting the nation on their bikes.”

A modern-day Penny Farthing?

Of all the weird and wonderful bikes roaming the streets of Seoul, this is the most intriguing to me. First time I saw a woman riding one through the tourist district my jaw quite literally dropped. Some modern-day Cartier Bresson would have had his camera out in a flash, but I’m not that fast. :-p Then I saw this one over at Olympic Park:

Big bike, small bike, and undecided

 And downtown yesterday I spotted this lady on one:

Another one

[UPDATE: After a bit of research on Korean price comparison websites, I have found out this bike is the Lebois model from bike maker Corex. Available for sale here in ivory or red for around 180,000 Korean won (85 British pounds; 140 US dollars). More detailed photos here.]

Then on the way home this odd little guy outside a copy shop caught my eye:

Self-modified(?) mini bike

Heck, someone even left it a dog bowl of water. How sweet.

Many people on bikes point out how much space cars take up, often quite unecessarily. Small bikes seem to take that one step further. Absolutely the best choice for crowded city living.

Seoul Cycle Chic – a Strida day

It folds up quite neatly. It doesn’t cost the earth. It has an oil-free chain. And judging by the number of people round here who use them, it apparently gives a good ride round town. Here’s an hour’s worth of Strida riders downtown.

funky

business

leisure

student

Seoul Cycle Chic – effortless cool

I love him for stopping beneath that butterfly.

 And a few moments later in the exact same spot…

Black and white and timeless

Not chic…

…but definitely cool!

There’s a forever-young part of me that sincerely wishes I could do this.

Now THAT's what helmets are for..