International Thoughts

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by o0_dan_0o on January 7, 2009 at 2:25pm

i was in copenhagen in 1985 (i was 11) and even then i was impressed by the cargo bikes i saw on the streets and the infrastructure they had in place. sweden too, i mean they had tunnels blasted through huge hills for bike traffic.

tunnels are cool no matter what though.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Leah on January 7, 2009 at 2:53pm

I was in Copenhagen as well in 2001, and it was the first time I saw citywide bike sharing where you put in a quarter (or equivalent Kroner) to unlock a bike, and you can return it at any bike stand. I thought it was so cool! The bikes had filled tires (so no punctured or flats) and weren't too comfortable for that reason, but they were still a convenient, cheap and super fun way to get around!

Also I was Amsterdam that same year and while I didn't get to ride, I did get hit by a biker who apologized profusely in very cute Dutch-accented English! :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dubi Kaufmann on January 7, 2009 at 3:59pm

This is a flayer for Critical Mass I saw in Dublin in 2002

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vondo on January 7, 2009 at 4:15pm

I've been to Mexico a few times and they have these work bikes with double top tubes and what not. I think the biggest difference is that they don't seem to have security of their bikes as a top priority. I saw plenty if not the majority of bikes just leaning on the wall outside of buildings and in some places even more bikes than cars cruising the streets. People in their sixties riding along at walking pace... its a whole different world down there as far as that goes.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on January 7, 2009 at 7:05pm

Bet it would be a blast to ride through the Gaza concentration camp right now.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vilda on January 7, 2009 at 8:02pm

You could if you enlist with the Israeli Army, they'll even give you a gun to shoot people with. I bet it's not fun riding through on the Israeli border side where towns continue to be hit with Gaza launched Qassam missiles even now, after the attack has begun (they had been doing it for months). All civilian casualties by the way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by S on January 7, 2009 at 8:22pm

Wow, this has the potential to get even more heated and longer than the critical mass discussion. How's about everyone agree to disagree and get back to the bike travels aspect of this thread?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on January 7, 2009 at 8:33pm

Gabe said:

You could if you enlist with the Israeli Army, they'll even give you a gun to shoot people with. I bet it's not fun riding through on the Israeli border side where towns continue to be hit with Gaza launched Qassam missiles even now, after the attack has begun (they had been doing it for months). All civilian casualties by the way.

The rocket attacks only happen because the jews don't have the guts to just exterminate the Palistinian population.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on January 7, 2009 at 10:40pm

Hope you're having fun Julie!

I've never cycled in a foreign country, but this guy has: http://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com

From reading all his entries, he seems to be impressed with the bike lanes/wide shoulders in Malaysia and really liked the medianed bike lanes in Perth, AUS.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon on January 8, 2009 at 6:58am

Does anyone else back a vote to keep political views off of this board, and simply keep it for the joy of cycling and cycling related activities? Please?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve 3po on January 8, 2009 at 10:49am

I think we should respect Julie's thread she is the one paying for expensive internet overseas... and for a change there is a positive story coming out of the middle-east three chainlinkers and bike porn.

When I was living in Spain(1999-2001), the bicycle was over taken by the moped, many moto gangs (teens mainly) zipping this way and that. Thusly many of the jobs that typical "bike messengers" hold here in the states were dominated by the moped. Most of the cyclists I met were ex-pats, who couldn't afford a moto, or car. Wow me steve type good(thank you nyquil)

h3 said:

Jon said:

Does anyone else back a vote to keep political views off of this board, and simply keep it for the joy of cycling and cycling related activities? Please?

I think there's a place for them, personally, just not in the middle of a non-political thread.
Further opinions welcome. Since this thread is sort of toast anyways, may as well vent them here . . .
A forum I frequent came up with sort of a "rubber room" concept-- a secondary forum that's not visible from the main forum, where members can duke it out on political issues day and night without offending the sensibilities of the main forum users. Something to consider for chainlink 2.0.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on January 10, 2009 at 1:05am

Thanks all - it's fun to hear other people's experiences abroad. I've seen more bikes here than a couple of years ago so that's encouraging. I couldn't get my camera out in time when a cyclist rode through the old city which was a bummer... Oh and I second or third a seperate forum for political views. Time to float in the Dead Sea...

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page