Alain Delorme's mobile Totems

Alain Delorme

While these photos taken in Shanghai by Alain Delorme (a bit of a Photoshop maverick) have been circulating the web - still wanted to take the opportunity to post a few. Ingrid at Aesthetics of Joy recently wrote about the emotional response of these photographs focusing on the transparency of the cargo, individuality and humanity of the workers.

And if in Paris, this series titled 'Totems' will be on view as of tomorrow through the 19th of February at Le Bon Marché!

Thanks, Ingrid!  

our cities ourselves on exhibit

Our Cities Ourselves: The Future of Transportation in Urban Life is on exhibit until September 15th at the Center for Architecture in NYC...

By 2030, sixty percent of the world’s population will live in cities. Sustainable transportation will be the key to the health of our cities, our own health, and the health of the environment.

Our Cities Ourselves envisions sustainable urban futures for ten major global cities: Ahmedabad, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Mexico City, New York City and Rio de Janeiro. In each city, ITDP field offices and international architects propose ideal transportation futures grounded in current conditions. The proposals present safe, vibrant streets that promote social and economic equality, privilege mass transit, bicyclists and pedestrians, and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The exhibition features a number of prototypes including the recumbent-like cargo bike 'Etta' designed by Nick Foley, a recent ID graduate from Pratt Institute. Some nice process shots...
Photos via Visual Syntax - thanks, Matthew

LongTails

Portland, OR had some fabulous bikes out there. Lots of commuters with panniers and trailers, but I became an instant fan of the Xtracycle LongTail... an extra long bike frame with a wooden skateboard-like deck mounted on the rear rack to haul anything: camping gear, surfboards, kayaks, kids, groceries, building materials... and there are pictures on Flickr to prove it!

Xtracycle isn't just another bicycle company. It's a labor of love devoted to the evolution of simple, versatile, and sustainable transportation. After 15 years of development in locales like Nicaragua, Kenya, and Stanford University's engineering labs... Xtracycle's LongTail innovation is a hitchless trailer that evolves the bike rack, bike bag (pannier or basket), bike trailer, passenger seat, and baby seat into one cargo utility bicycle system.

With so many bikes already out there you can be ultra sustainable by converting your existing bicycle into a cargo bike with Xtracycle's LongTail Kit. Their website walks you through the steps - basically add the frame extension to your rear drop out and hub which extends your wheelbase by 15".

Btw, if in Portland and looking to test one out, River City Bicycles carries them and the guys there were really friendly and helpful.

All photos via Xtracycle

camper bike

Having just returned from a ten day camping trip, one of these would have been dreamy...
Brooklyn based artist, Kevin Cyr, commemorates 'well-traveled recreation vehicles' through sculpture, painting and drawing. His Camper Bike above is a functioning sculpture from April 2008.

Like having a Tumbleweed Tiny House attached to your bike - a perfect union.

via DesignBoom

for the love of CARGO bikes

These are just a couple cargo bikes I photographed last summer in Copenhagen - a wonderful land where people use three wheels bikes to transport anything from pets, loads of kids, mother + kid, tons of groceries, and much more all in a little cube. So practical, so wonderful.

Christiania Bikes (named after the Copenhagen Christiania commune) have been making "transporter trikes" since 1976. They also make fabulously functional accessories/add ons including seat belts, mattresses, folding benches, rain hoods, and even hoods with windows. Here are just a few...



After living in Brooklyn for over 8 years, last fall I spotted a cargo bike for the first time in Brooklyn (in Park Slope). I feel the biggest obstacle in having one in Brooklyn is parking - while I know some people who argue the roads here are not big enough (which means some cars run you off). In any case, you may be seeing more on the streets soon since L.E.S. Bike Works and Bologna Bikes are collaborating on a new brand of custom personalized bicycle with two models: a cargo bike and metro speedster...

 
Wonder if the city would ever require cargo bikes to follow pedicabs regulations such as capping the number of them on the street, requiring license plates, insurance, and safety inspections? That would be sad and futile.

move by bike

a French-Canadian post in honor of Bastille Day...
I ♥ Canada (more than ever)

A lovely friend of mine from Montreal was recently in town and told me about a new moving company that moves all of your earthly possessions by bike for a mere $25/hour (Canadian). You can check out more photos of Transport Myette via their website in case you don't believe me.