I stumbled across this Flickr set called “China: Goods By Bicycle” posted by Flickr user Brickoleurbanism, who shot them in Shanghai.
Actually most of the images are good by tricycle, and most of the tricycles seem to be this single speed model with a curvaceous frame design. Anybody know what it is?
I love this mobile bike repair shop, with the water bowl out for checking leaking inner tubes.
Many of the images have multiple cyclists in the frame–I count at least six bikes in this image. In China there is still a critical mass of cyclists even as cars grow more accessible. Nary a helmet in sight, and no lycra, yet somehow they still manage to get around!
Check out the full set here. A wonderful typology of Chinese utilitarian cycling. And while you’re at it, the Bricoleurbanism blog these were shot for has a number of interesting posts on urban bike infrastructure.
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gotta say that curvaceous frame shares some DNA with the ol’ “hillclimber”…
http://bikedatesantamonica.blogspot.com/2009/08/rumors-changeable-gears-trekworld.html
awesome pics.
Great pics and a great blog. Trikes really are the main way of delivering goods and services in many Chinese cities. The old neighborhoods have streets that are too narrow for most trucks. In one Hutong near me, the fire department uses bikes loaded with extinguishers.
If you are interested in more details on Chinese bicycles and bicycling in China, you can check out my blog.
http://www.flyingpigeonproject.org.
Keep up the good work.
-JS