Most trips I make are for business. Usually business trips are packed with meetings and work related activities. However, there is always opportunity to spin my wheel for 30 minutes in the morning. I enjoy bringing my bike to travel because it is really the best way to see the local and get a feel of the location.
In different countries, from hotel to hotel, office to office, the world seems to be merging into one. Everywhere looks more or less the same. Riding in the morning gives me a personal perspective to the cities I am visiting. Physically rolling over the pavement in Shanghai, feel the cold air in Hamburg, the smells from the hawkers selling breakfast in Bangkok, listening to the sound of morning train and motorist as I ride near the Osaka train station, the experience is rich and unique every time. Cycling empower my (walking) movement by five times, half hour exploration in the morning easily covers the same distance as if I would be walking for 2~3 hours. Yet the speed is not too fast that make me lost touch with the physical reality, like sitting in a taxi.
My last trip to Osaka was during the Japanese cherry blossoms (sakura). I was really lucky because the best moment last only for two weeks and I just happen to be there with my bike.
Osaka castle in cheery blossoms (sukura)cheery blossoms (sakura)JZ88 folding bike in Osakacyclist couple under cheery blossoms (sakura)full tree of cheery blossoms (sakura)picnic under cheery blossoms (sakura)JZ88 folding bike in OsakaJZ88 folding bike in Osakabringing JZ88 on the train for airportNext: what did I see in Osaka streets?
The fastest 14″ folding bike in the world, the limited edition JZ88 Electric blue. A crazy 72 gear inch speed. Only 8 pieces made. SGD 700 each, non-negotiable.
Sue Ann and her team in LKY School of Public Policy, NUS, did an interesting study about cycling in Singapore.
The government commonly dismisses the call for bicycle promotion with the spatial rationale. However, it is precisely the problem of land shortage that requires bicycles to be the solution like in Tokyo, London, New York, Copenhagen and other similar places.