Jian Ping's column
Bicycle Culture
Bicycle Culture
Jian Ping is author of “Mulberry Child: A Memoir of
China. “ For more information, visit www.
moraquest.com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian
Ping’s blog, which she keeps with a couple of
other authors, is at www.smearedtype.com.
China. “ For more information, visit www.
moraquest.com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian
Ping’s blog, which she keeps with a couple of
other authors, is at www.smearedtype.com.
We Build, Manage, Operate, and Improve Quality Care Systems for Persons with Chronic Health Conditions. For current employment opportunities, please visit: www.tmg-wis.com |
Jian Ping
I see that more and more people are using the
Divvy bikes, a bike sharing system in Chicago.
There seem to be more people on the bike lanes
on the city streets as well. Bike riding is good for
our health and good for the environment. It is fun
as well. I hope, with the promotion and support
from the City Hall, more people will feel
comfortable to get on their bikes in Chicago,
especially in the beautiful summer season as we
are in right now. Of course, I hope the activity is
not only reserved for the young.
Divvy bikes, a bike sharing system in Chicago.
There seem to be more people on the bike lanes
on the city streets as well. Bike riding is good for
our health and good for the environment. It is fun
as well. I hope, with the promotion and support
from the City Hall, more people will feel
comfortable to get on their bikes in Chicago,
especially in the beautiful summer season as we
are in right now. Of course, I hope the activity is
not only reserved for the young.
By Jian Ping
We arrived at Enkhuizen, a small town about an hour's train ride from Amsterdam during a
recent trip to Europe. Among the ancient brick buildings, the red brick-paved sidewalks and
streets, and the canal that was packed with numerous sailing boats, I noticed an amazing
scene; hundreds of bicycle racks at the train station, each had a heavy-duty bike locked to it. I
had been to Amsterdam before and witnessed the double-deck bicycle racks packed with
bicycles at the central train station. But the jammed bike racks, and more, the sight of so many
silver-haired people riding their bikes on the bumpy brick road in this ancient town, took me by
surprise.
"I like it already," I said to my husband.
Enkhuizen was our first vacation stop. Decades ago, my husband worked at a seed company
here for seven years. He was eager to take a colleague of his and me around the town as soon
We arrived at Enkhuizen, a small town about an hour's train ride from Amsterdam during a
recent trip to Europe. Among the ancient brick buildings, the red brick-paved sidewalks and
streets, and the canal that was packed with numerous sailing boats, I noticed an amazing
scene; hundreds of bicycle racks at the train station, each had a heavy-duty bike locked to it. I
had been to Amsterdam before and witnessed the double-deck bicycle racks packed with
bicycles at the central train station. But the jammed bike racks, and more, the sight of so many
silver-haired people riding their bikes on the bumpy brick road in this ancient town, took me by
surprise.
"I like it already," I said to my husband.
Enkhuizen was our first vacation stop. Decades ago, my husband worked at a seed company
here for seven years. He was eager to take a colleague of his and me around the town as soon
as we left our luggage at our hotel.
Within a couple of hours, we had walked by most of the significant buildings in town: the old city hall that was built in the 17th
century, the two churches, one for fishermen, and the other, farmers, built in the 15th century, and the ancient city gate, most
likely set up in the 14th century, if not earlier, since it received "city rights" in 1355. Everywhere we went, I saw old buildings, very
well maintained, yet many top façade, either in the shape of a terrace, or with curved edges, seemed to lean forward (in
Amsterdam, we did see enforcement added to hold the façade back), and you may have guessed, people on their bicycles. I
particularly like the sight of elders riding bicycles.
Within a couple of hours, we had walked by most of the significant buildings in town: the old city hall that was built in the 17th
century, the two churches, one for fishermen, and the other, farmers, built in the 15th century, and the ancient city gate, most
likely set up in the 14th century, if not earlier, since it received "city rights" in 1355. Everywhere we went, I saw old buildings, very
well maintained, yet many top façade, either in the shape of a terrace, or with curved edges, seemed to lean forward (in
Amsterdam, we did see enforcement added to hold the façade back), and you may have guessed, people on their bicycles. I
particularly like the sight of elders riding bicycles.
A building dated 1716 in
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen
Elderly bikers taking a break
I felt immediately vindicated for riding
my bike around town in Chicago.
Although the City of Chicago has
been promoting cycling and has
allocated hundred miles of bike
lanes on city streets, none of my
friends, least of all in my age group,
ride bicycles around town as a
means of transportation. Over the
years, a few friends had joined me
from time to time riding on the
lakefront trail. But never on the city
streets.
"Too dangerous," they told me.
It is true, with all the speeding cars
and pedestrians, often distracted by
my bike around town in Chicago.
Although the City of Chicago has
been promoting cycling and has
allocated hundred miles of bike
lanes on city streets, none of my
friends, least of all in my age group,
ride bicycles around town as a
means of transportation. Over the
years, a few friends had joined me
from time to time riding on the
lakefront trail. But never on the city
streets.
"Too dangerous," they told me.
It is true, with all the speeding cars
and pedestrians, often distracted by
the gadgets in their hands, riding a bike on Chicago streets can be scary. But the lakefront trail provides a safe path from
south to north. With a connection to city streets that have a bike lane, one can navigate a route that is quite manageable.
During our visit to the Netherlands, we also stopped in Amsterdam and Leiden. In Leiden, a beautiful college town, we
walked through the downtown area, divided by canals, and visited the campus of the Leiden University, the oldest in the
Netherlands. In this college town, cyclists, mostly young men and women, are everywhere.
south to north. With a connection to city streets that have a bike lane, one can navigate a route that is quite manageable.
During our visit to the Netherlands, we also stopped in Amsterdam and Leiden. In Leiden, a beautiful college town, we
walked through the downtown area, divided by canals, and visited the campus of the Leiden University, the oldest in the
Netherlands. In this college town, cyclists, mostly young men and women, are everywhere.
| Biker racks and bikers |
Our next stop was Vienna. While I was awed by the beauty and
size of historical buildings, the magnificent St. Stevens
Church, and the rich cultural life the city has to offer, I was,
once again, impressed by the bicycle lanes, mostly set up next
to the pedestrian path, all over town. Again, here I saw people
of all ages on their bikes. I was so impressed. Right there and
then, I envisioned a similar sight in Chicago, and wished one
day it would be the case in the heart of the Midwest.
Over the next ten days, we visited Romania and Germany.
Romania turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, largely due
to the hospitality of my niece, Jia, and her husband, both
diplomats at the Chinese Embassy in Bucharest. Despite
their busy schedule, they took turns taking time off to show us
around. We spent a day driving all the way from Bucharest to
the Black Sea, making it a highlight of my trip, for I got to swim
size of historical buildings, the magnificent St. Stevens
Church, and the rich cultural life the city has to offer, I was,
once again, impressed by the bicycle lanes, mostly set up next
to the pedestrian path, all over town. Again, here I saw people
of all ages on their bikes. I was so impressed. Right there and
then, I envisioned a similar sight in Chicago, and wished one
day it would be the case in the heart of the Midwest.
Over the next ten days, we visited Romania and Germany.
Romania turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, largely due
to the hospitality of my niece, Jia, and her husband, both
diplomats at the Chinese Embassy in Bucharest. Despite
their busy schedule, they took turns taking time off to show us
around. We spent a day driving all the way from Bucharest to
the Black Sea, making it a highlight of my trip, for I got to swim
in it. Compared to Lake Michigan in Chicago, the water was more buoyant and warm in the Black Sea. Most of the people
there were sunbathing on the beach or playing in the water. I put on my swimsuit, cap, and goggles, totally out of place on the
beach, and waddled my way to the edge of the marked area for swimming. I could see various recreational motorboats or
jets running back and forth nearby from the corner of my eye, but managed to enjoy my solo swim for nearly an hour. A total
joy.
there were sunbathing on the beach or playing in the water. I put on my swimsuit, cap, and goggles, totally out of place on the
beach, and waddled my way to the edge of the marked area for swimming. I could see various recreational motorboats or
jets running back and forth nearby from the corner of my eye, but managed to enjoy my solo swim for nearly an hour. A total
joy.
We also visited the Palace of the
Parliament, an enormous building,
reportedly only second in size to the
Pentagon as a government building.
and reportedly, is the most expensive
and heaviest building, with marble and
chandeliers all over the place. It was
built during the Ceausescu era, but
Nicolae Ceausescu was killed before
it was finished. We then went to visit
the Peles Castle, the summer palace
of King Carol I (1839–1914) in Sanaia
and the Bran Castle, known as the "
Parliament, an enormous building,
reportedly only second in size to the
Pentagon as a government building.
and reportedly, is the most expensive
and heaviest building, with marble and
chandeliers all over the place. It was
built during the Ceausescu era, but
Nicolae Ceausescu was killed before
it was finished. We then went to visit
the Peles Castle, the summer palace
of King Carol I (1839–1914) in Sanaia
and the Bran Castle, known as the "
(L-R) Bucharest's Parliament Palace; Castle of Dracula
Dracula Castle" in Transylvania. Quite an eye-opening and fun experience. We only walked in the "old town" in Bucharest
when we had dinners in the area, but I noticed people riding bicycles as well.
Our last stop was Frankfurt, Germany where my daughter, Lisa, has been working since March of this year. The city, with a
sophisticated subway system, is very accessible by walking. As we browsed through town, I couldn't help but notice people
on their bikes, though the bike paths didn't appear as well laid out as in Vienna. We also took a day trip to Heidelberg, a city
known for its picturesque buildings and baroque style Old Town. With a well-known university right in the center of town,
there are many bikes and cyclists everywhere we turned.
when we had dinners in the area, but I noticed people riding bicycles as well.
Our last stop was Frankfurt, Germany where my daughter, Lisa, has been working since March of this year. The city, with a
sophisticated subway system, is very accessible by walking. As we browsed through town, I couldn't help but notice people
on their bikes, though the bike paths didn't appear as well laid out as in Vienna. We also took a day trip to Heidelberg, a city
known for its picturesque buildings and baroque style Old Town. With a well-known university right in the center of town,
there are many bikes and cyclists everywhere we turned.
| (L-R) A well-loved bike; a girl getting a free ride with mom |
I returned to Chicago, feeling
more encouraged than ever to
ride my bike whenever
possible. I was pleased to
see some worn out
segments of the lakefront trail
had been repaired while I
was gone, and more,
Harrison Street, which is next
to my office, has a newly
marked bike lane, with
eye-catching green patches at
cross sections.
more encouraged than ever to
ride my bike whenever
possible. I was pleased to
see some worn out
segments of the lakefront trail
had been repaired while I
was gone, and more,
Harrison Street, which is next
to my office, has a newly
marked bike lane, with
eye-catching green patches at
cross sections.