clementg

Hi,

has anyone got any [crazy] ideas in associating cycling in a backlane with garbage disposal or air quality treatment?

can the motion or mechanism of cycling generate [something] that can compensate to a second agenda, which is going on in the same backlane? maybe with high-speed or implementation of mechanical devices which can incorporate in an architecture?

all comments/ideas appreciated, many thanks!

HereNT

**********?

EventServices

Were you once stranded on a desert island with a guy named Gilligan?

And you hooked up a bicycle to power the radio in a backlane paradigm?

And moreimportantly, did you ever score with Ginger?

clementg

perhaps, i should recapture my enquiry.

my question is addressed to fellow cyclists, especially city commuters. in a modern city, we have 'precincts' such as the shopping precinct where you have retail shops with shoppers who densify a certain location. similarly, as cyclists, do you think there is a necessity to establish 'cycling precinct'?

with the cycling precinct, what do cyclists want out of it? something phenomenal that bike enthusiasts can't get easily/anywhere?

in a city grid, almost all lanes/roads are bicycle accessible. would it be interesting if there's a hybrid kind of building(2 or 3 storey maybe) that consists of all the cycling activities in it?

but before that, perhaps there are various issues that we could address in [cycling in the city], and put the solution of these issues into this one hybrid building that all the cyclists can come to enjoy? or maybe the various programs that can be associated to cycling.

tulip

The hybrid building you describe sounds suspiciously like a shopping mall. Ugh--separate, difficult to get too, self-contained, lacking temporal and spatial connections to people, history, and place.

Personally, I like to ride in part to get away from people. On my bike I'm free to go almost anywhere in the city. I don't want to hang around cyclists--my racing days left a bad taste in my mouth.

You must be an architecture student. I was one once, too. Take a look at how to make the city more friendly and accessible to bicycles. A common mistake among architects is to focus on the building, instead of the spaces between buildings--that's where the opportunities for good, sustainable design are.

clementg

certainly, cyclists actually enjoy the freedom of putting their bike on the street and just pedal to anywhere they want. in this point of view, i don't think there is a necessity in establishing a [cycling-precinct] that i've mentioned.

to look at the other side of cycling, relevant to skateboarding or roller-skating activity, these activity-go-ers do create a spot for themselves, a point of gather for such activity. Sort of like the X-Game or similar. With cycling(not only bmx), there's a faint sight of such phenomena in the city, but don't we cyclists feel that there's a potential in pulling out this [faint sight] and express it boldly in a city?

[critical-mass] for example, it's a group cycling activity which capture the awareness of vehicles on the road for such reason. if there is really no necessity in establishing a precinct, why then, the establishment of various bicycle clubs/organizations? that's why i'm trying to pull this covered-part of cycling out, and make it a bold spot/precinct in the city.

much more like other hobbies/activities, people gather to exchange point of views, compare their gears, learn something new, or even show off! imagine a carparks building for example, with all the ramps in there, where cyclists venture into it, probably with several bike shops or related commercials? perhaps, someone here could suggest, what will cyclists be looking for if there [IS], such a building.

tulip

I guess I'm not that kind of cyclist. Maybe the BMX forum would be a good place to ask. Like skaters, they tend to congregate for riding in one spot.

DieselDan

If you're trying to impress someone, it isn't working.

tulip

yeah, but let's be nice just for the helluvit.

powers2b

Where's that bunny with the pancake on his head?

joeprim

I also don't see a use for your hybrid building. Building on Velogirl's space between the buildings comment though:
I seem to remember an area in San Feranando California that didn't allow motorized transportantion. Could you city incorperate more of these areas? Maybe lanes not areas so that alternate lanes could be for trucks to get in with deliverlies.

Does this address your question or am I way off?

Joe

dbg

the mechanism of bicycling can associate with freedom from restriction. but precincts relate further restriction. bold expression derives from group freedom and clubs assemble to further that expression. architecture can incorporate such freedoms but cannot (should not) contain it. mechanical devices do not contribute simply by existing. usage is required.

(Hunter S. Thompson lives!)

Flaneur

The pedestrianised shopping precinct is a successful pre-WW2 design, adopted in numerous locations to rebuild war ravaged city centres in Europe and elsewhere. Key to attracting cyclists is the design of safe corridors between residential areas and the centre, which I suppose means attracting the support of transport planners as well as architects.

Multi-purpose buildings for cycle-related activity have aready been adapted........I'm not sure how much ground-up design has taken place. Many cities would benefit from a bike shop/cafe/ repair centre/ hire centre/secure parking place. This would seem like a good base from which to run repair clinics, renovation workshops and so on, which could also benefit wheelchair users and soforth.........

-am I understanding you correctly?

DieselDan

She moved in with the jackalope.

wangster

he sounds like a third year architecture student that thinks they know a lot about arch theory and decided to come up with some of his/her own. this thread sounds like a bad arch theory discussion between some wannabe tschumi arch students. Are you an urban planner? sounds like a planner's dream.. architects nightmare.

tulip

whatever. RIDE YOUR BIKE!

powers2b

Where's the jackelope?

[QUOTE=powers2b]There he is....

clementg

wow, pleased with the replies, appreciate your valueable comments/suggestions. [velogirl,joeprim,dbg,flaneur]

yes, joeprim and flaneur, that's kindof what i was looking into.

instead of the common activities that Flaneur has brought up, i have now taken a step further to incorporate [extreme] cycling activities in a hybrid building. still, much in contrast with current cyclists' desire and what you guys have mentioned, but this is something interesting that i could look into at the moment.

[extreme] cycling activities deal with, well extreme stuff, but cycling-related. it's not constrained to BMX stunt, but also MTB/Racer. ie. if i have a 100m long space, how about a speed test track? there will be ample space for bikeshops/workshops/clinics in this building, you can modify your bike. whether for aerodynamics/efficiency/light-weight, try out the added performance of an aerobar/new hubs/derailleurs/sadal/fat-thin tires/custom frame, and have a go on this track. further, with this activity contained in a building, you can have conditioned environment to run your test, for wind resistance maybe?

more to that, slopes for brake efficiency, ramps that challenge your stamina/strength. these spaces are somehow intertwined, to have a sense of density in this building but somehow, have also a clear sense of boundary from each other, in order to carry out the various activities efficiently. there can be linear/circling bike lane, that relates/encompass these spaces together. anything [phenomenal] that should be included?

dgb's comment was right on, especially interesting to incorporate into such a building. because all these activities are contained in a building, there's [freedom restriction]. although not much, as this building is actually [functional]. i should consider extending the streetscape into the building, how easily from the street can a cyclist easily channel into it, having it to blend with the street/surrounding, perhaps, could break away from this restriction?