Most people avoid cycling in the rain, thinking that it will be messy and dangerous. These are partly true, depends on how well you prepare and how you ride. But I am not going to explain how to cycling in the rain. I just want share a short video showing there is an upside to the perceived struggle.
Normally I can only enjoy this wonderful moment privately. But yesterday morning, on my way to work, the rain stop half way, at the right location I happen to have my camera with me and manage to capture this dream like effects.
You don’t want to be embarassed in front of others when struggling to fold the bike. Watch carefully how to convert it into a trolley in cool 5 seconds.
Jz88 folding bike can be completely folded in 9 seconds. Practice this as home before going “public”.
Unfolding the bike is as simple as folding it. More details http://www.jz88.com.
We have been working closely with current users and did extensive riding tests in order to optimize the design for the new JZ88 (call it Mark2). The most popular requests are: smaller, lighter, cheaper, faster and more comfortable. Problem is, many of these requests are contradictory in reality, for example, there are stronger material such as titenium to make the bike lighter but that would cost a lot more. We can install a more comfy seat but that would make the bike heavier.
What will the Mark 2 looks like? What is your view?
Bicycle ownership and use has been declining in China and India, while Europe is at the forefront of measures to popularise cycling. Here are some comparisons:
OVERVIEW
There are some 1.6 billion bicycles in the world, 500 million of them in China, 250 million in Europe and 150 million in the United States. China and India are the world’s largest producers of bicycles. China manufactured about 80 million bicycles in 2005, accounting for about 60 percent of global production while India’s share was around 11 percent. The global bicycle industry, including bicycles, parts and accessories, is estimated to have total retail sales in excess of $20 billion.
CHINA AND INDIA
Annual bicycle sales in China have fallen from 40 million in the 1990s to 20 million. Bicycle ownership in India is down from about 45 million in 1995 to 31 million. The proportion of trips undertaken by bicycle in India is between 15 percent and 35 percent, but cycling is popular mostly in rural areas. The absence of safe cycling paths and parking facilities are the major obstacles. Sixty percent of the workforce in China’s capital Beijing cycled to work in 1998; that is down to less than 20 percent now. Hundreds of bike lanes in Beijing have been converted for use by cars.
EUROPE
In the European Union, bicycles have been included for the first time in the comprehensive transportation plan. High car parking fees and abundant bike lanes have ensured that 35 percent of local trips in Amsterdam are made by bike. The percentage is even higher in other Dutch and Danish cities, according to Dutch figures. The United Kingdom has developed a plan to quadruple bicycle use by the year 2012. The Danish capital Copenhagen provides 3,000 bicycles free for short-term use. One-third of commuters bike to work. Germany has more than 40,000 km of bikeways. In the city of Muenster, bus lanes can be used by bikes but not by cars and special lanes near intersections feed cyclists to a stop area ahead of cars.
Sources: Reuters; International Bicycle Fund (www.ibike.org); Earth Policy Institute (www.earth-policy.org); Worldwatch Institute (www.worldwatch.org) ((Writing by Bangalore Editorial Reference Unit; editing by Megan Goldin Reuters Messanging: Karthik.subbaraman.reuters.com@reuters.net; +91 80 4135 5900, fax +91 80 4135 5001))
20 Dec 2006 18:03:54 GMT
A short and sweet artice about the ROI (Return On Investment) of biking in city. I certainy hope Singaporean (gov. & ppl) wake up to this overlooked opportunity to improve Singapore even better.
Here are a few quotes:
“Odense Cycle City, an ongoing, multi-million kroner effort to improve conditions for bicycle commuters, is proving to be a good investment.”
“The programme cost the city DKK 20 million (EUR 2.68 million) and has transformed Odense into one of Denmark’s most bike friendly cities, increasing the number of two-wheeled commuters in the city of 186,000 by an estimated 25,000 per day.”
“Odense estimates that over the past four years, a decrease in the number of sick days has saved DKK 33 million (EUR 4.4 million) in health service costs and unemployment benefits.”