Utility Cycling - Ultra Utility Cycles in China.

Saw this in the commuting section.


" From Daxr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bricoleurbanism/sets/72157617860997830/

Had to post this - some fascinating set-ups there well worth looking at. "

Very interesting. Thanks.

Great slideshow! Thanks for the link.

"While Shanghai is in many other ways a very modern and advanced city, the continuing use of bicycles for so many purposes seems directly related to the presence of so many people willing (or forced) to work for extremely low fees"
I love the implication that the bicycle is not modern nor advanced. I guess to be modern and advanced you have kill the planet and a lot more people.

I would guess that 99% of the people pedaling those loads around would have a nice pickup truck to haul the stuff if they could afford it- they're not necessarily riding because it's "green".

From the story a lesson America could learn and learn well............

" the bicycle remains by far the cheapest and indeed the only affordable means of transportation. Especially over short delivery distances, it would seem to many Chinese almost wasteful to use a truck."

"almost" :)

Sadly, those cargo bikes are being crowded out of the big cities in China by the automobile. For example, shots of street traffic in Beijing during the olympics showed lots of cars, but few bikes. That's a complete flip-flop from 20 years ago.:(

When you consider how much more room a car takes than a bike, they are going to be even more crowded than now. Talk about traffic jams.

more interesting Chinese Utility Bikes.

These are from Beijing before the Olympics



http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/P2120039.jpg?t=1243884056

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/P2120040.jpg?t=1243884093

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/P2180006.jpg?t=1243884117

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/bicycle_pickup_truck.jpg?t=1243884144

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/bicycle_with_beer_bottles.jpg?t=1243884172

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/china%20bikes/chef_with_veggies_in_bike.jpg?t=1243884197

So what's with the lever on the down tube? Brake?

So what's with the lever on the down tube? Brake?

Yes, I believe it is a brake. I didn't feel crawl under any of these to check out the cable from the lever, but seeing them in action I believe the lever is connected to a cable that operates a brake.

Its a shame the bicycle is viewed as a symbol of poverty, and the car (or truck) as a symbol of success and 'moving up'. I think the xtracycle, and the yuba, and all the utility cyclers on this forum, are doing a great job of turning that assumption on its head. Unfortunately we dont have the financial backing to sell our 'dream' that the carmakers have to sell theirs. We do have one thing on our side though: we are right, and in open debate the better argument will win.

Keep spreading the word, good people

in open debate the better argument will win.

It won't though. It should, but it won't. Pigheaded stupidity wins out every time.

So what's with the lever on the down tube? Brake?

I've seen some old/foreign pedicabs for sale that had a monster brake pedal for sure-nuff stopping action, expect those are the same.