Copenhagen Mix - Links from around the world

International
My Bike Number is a free registration service where you print out a QR code and stick it on your bicycle. Link from An Affair With Fashion.

Sydney
The City That Hates Bikes. Link from Reuben.

And this article Safety Experts Urge Cyclists to Sit Up and Take Notice. Sydney will never be a bicycle-friendly city until it develops a ''second cycling culture'' which encourages relaxed European-style riding without the compulsory use of helmets, experts have warned.

London
Hackney, London is A Cycling Hell according to Crap Waltham Forest in this post called Crap Cycling and Walking in Hackney. Oft heralded as London's bicycling mecca, there's little bicycle infrastructure to speak of and that's a problem (surprise, surprise).

Australia
Green Lights for Bikes - Providing for bike riders at traffic signals. From Bicycle Victoria.

Bristol
The Bristol Bike Project is a short documentary about a bike recycling workshop on City Road in Bristol. If you know of anyone with an old or unwanted bicycle then you could consider contacting The Bike Project at www.thebristolbikeproject.org

London
What's Stopping Women From Cycling. Link from Mark at I Bike London.

Cambodia
Here's a BBC clip about the pedi-cabs in Phnom Penh. Link from Ed.

Portugal
A blogpost with cool photos about Scientists on Bikes.

San Francisco
Cycle Tracks - Smartphone app from San Francisco. Link from Greg.

Dublin
Contraflow lanes for cyclists being considered by council in Dublin, says Padhraig.

New York
Biking the Big Apple by James from The Urban Country.

Canada
Share the Road Green Paper in Canada. Link from Autumn.

First our Toronto bike sharing program comes under fire and now we learn that the police are "powerless" to enforce no parking in bike lanes. Link from Duncan.

The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit

Cyclist in Hackney, London. July 2009.

A review of urban transport from the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit came out yesterday is kind to Copenhagen as a source of inspiration for what may be possible for the UK. It's a big document - 131 pages - and chock full of information. Copenhagen features on two pages of the document.

According to the British CTC, "it’s pretty critical and honest in it's assessment of UK transport policy and recommends a massive expansion in cycling and reduction in parking capacity for cars."

What they say in the report about Copenhagen is this:

Copenhagen has a long history of cycle use. A comprehensive and growing segregated cycle network and widespread facilities has helped establish a strong cycling culture.

In 2006, 36% of commuters cycled to work, and a target has been set to be the world's top cycling city by achieving at least 50% of people to commute to work or school by bicycle by 2015.

The abundance of cycle infrastructure is often cited anecdotally as the reason for the high level of cycling in the city. In the main the network is made up of segregated cycle paths separated from the carriageway by a physical barrier or grade-separation. These have been used in preference to cycle lanes because it is thought to create a feeling of greater safety for cycle uses. Plans are to build a further 51km of cycle tracks by 2016.

In addition to the construction of cycle routes, current cycling policy in Copenhagen advocates maintenance and cleaning of infrastructure to improve the comfort of cycle journeys.

In addition, integration with public transport is also cited as important and feedback collected as part of the Bicycle Account identifies the need for improved cycle parking at railway stations.


The report also mentions Copenhagen in relation to developing a pedestrian-friendly city by creating positive city space since the first street pedestrianisation in 1962. As the graph shows, Denmark is one of the most pedestrianized countries in the EU15.

The report states:

Copenhagen introduced its first pedestrianisation scheme in 1962. Since then it has employed a range of measures to develop an urban realm that is supportive of walking, including:

– the introduction of car-free zones and the development of public spaces, such as public squares and urban strollways.

– the redesign of older areas to facilitate increased use, including a programme of courtyard renewal.

– the reallocation of parking areas to cycle lanes, wider pavements and pedestrian space. The total number of public parking spaces in the inner city decreased by 12% from 1995 to 2005, despite a significant increase in car ownership (11% from 1999 to 2004).

In addition to changes in the physical environment, simple measures have been taken to encourage the use of streets throughout the day and evening: for example, shop fronts remain visible beyond opening hours so that streets don't 'close down' when shops finish trading.

The whole report is available for download as a .pdf: An analysis of urban transport - November 2009.

Thanks to Chris at the CTC for the link.

Dreams on Wheels Goes to London

Hackney. Broadway Market. A day in July. London Cycle Chic, indeed.

Press Release from the Mayor of London
Tuesday 1 September

Dreams On Wheels rolls into City Hall

As part of London’s summer of cycling, an exhibition has been unveiled at City Hall exploring contemporary urban cycling culture in London and Copenhagen.

The exhibition Dreams on Wheels is organised by the GLA and the Embassy of Denmark, London, and is designed to share knowledge between the two cities where cycling is celebrated, and to encourage more people to try out two wheels.

The London incarnation, which will run from 1 September – 2 October, is part of the prologue to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year, and other versions have been shown around the world.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“There is more rain in Copenhagen than in London, yet cycling there has become part of the fabric of the city, whereas in London many are yet to join the cycling revolution.

“London is now taking great strides towards becoming a true cycling city, with record investment going in to provide the infrastructure needed to make biking even safer, accessible, and more convenient. I hope that this exhibition encourages more people to get in the saddle and savour the city’s sights.”

Ambassador of Denmark, Mr. Birger Riis-Jørgensen, said:

"The best way to get around London is on your bike, and I enjoy how the road users respect and consider each other in the traffic. Danes write poems about the wonders of cycling. It is great that Londoners and Danes can now jointly explore the joys and challenges of safe cycling. To the benefit of our planet and ourselves."

The latest figures show the number of Londoners who choose pedal over petrol is on the up – with cycling on the capital’s major roads rising nine per cent over the last year.

Transport for London is investing £111 million this year, providing funding for safety programmes, training, events, and landmark schemes such as cycle superhighways and a cycle hire scheme.

Notes
- Dreams On Wheels is curated by Etikstudio with photographic contributions from Mikael Colville-Andersen.

Lock 7 Cycle Café in Hackney

There was one bicycle shop I knew I'd end up visiting when in London. I'd heard about the Lock 7 Cycle Café from a reader and, since I was staying in the same neighbourhood, Hackney, it was just down the street.

I'd also heard that the café was inspired by a trip the owners made to Copenhagen and I had to get an answer to that mystery. We don't have cycle cafés in Copenhagen. Well... I suppose we do... every café in the city can be cycled to so that kind of makes them all cycle cafés... but I digress. We don't have cafés that serve you coffee and food while your bike gets fixed.

When I spoke with the owners I was told that it was merely the Danish capital's all-encompassing bicycle culture that inspired them to start a café in Hackney. Which is great.

Lock 7 is like an anchor for the blossoming bicycle culture in Hackney in particular and London in general. Sitting outside on a Tuesday morning with a coffee, the parade of cyclists/Cycle Chicistas rolling past was astounding. It has to be the most cleverly placed bike shop in London.

In the city on a whole there are 2% trips by bike but in Hackney it's 8%. Lock 7 has a fine, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. When they started out the café was a lot larger but now the tables are a bit fewer to make room for the bikes. They repair them and they sell them and I spotted a shiny new Velorbis in the stable of new bikes. All they need now are some Bullitts from Larry vs Harry to complete the Copenhagen Connection.

A location next to a constant flow of cyclists is a plus, but check out the rest of the location. It has to be the best view from a bike shop I've ever seen. Lock 7 is named after this seventh lock on the Regent's Canal that winds it's way through London. It's not because you need seven locks to secure your bike in the city. Four will do, apparently.

Lock 7 Cycle Cafe is located at 129 Pritchards Road, London [Hackney].
www.Lock-7.com

Sargent and Co - Bespoke Bicycles

On my recent visit to London I spent the better part of two days cycling throughout the capital on a photo assignment. My indispensible guide, Oliver from Hackney Cyclists, brought me quite on purpose past Sargent & Co Bicycle Shop.

My god, I'm glad he did. The shop was closed but Rob Sargent, the owner, was kind enough to open the door and let us in inside for a look. It was time for a tea break, anyway.

Rob opened up the shop about a year ago after settling on a bicycle shop as a 'lifestyle change'. It's more of a workshop than a bicycle shop proper as Rob gently restores vintage racers at the most relaxing, aesthetic pace.

That's Rob making the tea in the background and it's Eric Deeks in the foreground. Eric is teaching Rob the tricks of the framebuilding trade. He used to build frames for Paris Cycles back in the day.

I don't know what it was about the shop but I keep returning to it in my head. The atmosphere was calm, the air scented with the unmistakeable sweetness of oil and vintage. Buzzing gently below the surface was that unique passion for bicycles, like the sound of a distant bumble bee at the bottom of the garden.

The most remarkable thing about this bicycle shop is that you feel as though it has occupied the premises since, I don't know... 1948... and that Rob's dad and grampy had puttered around inside throughout the decades before handing it down. You don't quite believe the Established 2008 sign outside and are quite convinced that the old walls have strained under the weight of hanging frames and wheels. Indeed, that they were built solely for this purpose.

Speaking to Rob you are seduced by his quiet manner and gentle voice. Just hearing the way he speaks and you know how he handles the old frames and bicycles that are wheeled into the shop. Gently, lovingly, passionately.

Business is fine, apparently. Too fine, you sense. Meaning less time for the quiet pleasures of restoring old bicycles to former glory and building new frames. The bicycle in the left window in the top photo is Rob's first framebuilding effort. you can see a better photo of it on his Flickr Photostream. He was well proud about it in the most relaxed way. It certainly is a beauty.

Eric used to build Paris bicycles not that far from the shop. His prescence in the place is one of quiet authority. Hands grey with grease as he sips his tea you can't help thinking of what it was like building bicycles in the 1950's and you secretly wish you were there to experience it.

That's Rob's bike on the wall but he has a 'pub bike' out front which is just a beat up old mixte that nobody will nick.

Left: An old R.H. Wakefield is on the rack, ready for treatment.
Right: The cellar workshop.

If you're in London, be sure to meander past. Even if the shop is closed, peer through the windows. It's enough, somehow.

Sargent & Co is at
74 Mountgrove Road
Finsbury Park
www.sargentandco.com/