Casa HO

Leave a reply

It is impressive to discover a building in which bike needs have been idealized and implemented thanks for twenty first-century-mind architects. One example is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In concrete, the HO house (from the Donato – Holmberg area) was built in 2018 on the military Osvaldo Cacciatore’s idea of a highway that fortunately was not finally materialized. However, the end of the dictatorship finished with his dream, though almost one thousand houses were expropriated.

The 12,000 squared meters building counts on a commercial space in the ground floor and apartments in upper floors. What is really interesting is the ramp which quarters the central courtyard from the ground floor to the fifth floor. Thus, a person can ride his bicycle to the top without stop pedaling. Moreover, there are bike parking in every floor for 40 bikes in total.

So close is the relation of this building with bicycles that the building owner gave a beautiful bike by Monochrome Bikes to those who bought an apartment.

Cinema and cars

Leave a reply

Why do almost all the successful main characters on the scream drive cars or motorbikes instead of bicycles? Think on James Bond or Batman, they move on cars rather than bikes. Cinema is only one example of the overwhelming influence of cars manufacturers on potential buyers. When we see a character riding a bike, he or she usually is on holiday or practicing sport instead of using it to go to work, shopping or study (or is delivering something). This intentional detail was successfully implemented more than half century ago and we have grown up with it in our brains with hesitating. However, the tendency could change in the coming years as less and less teenagers want to drive cars at least in developed countries, cartoons show characters on alternative, non-pollutant vehicles and adults fight against climate change by using alternative ways of transport while some people add the economic concept to the “fight” of bicycles vs cars.

Urban Mobility Courses

Leave a reply

Have you imagined a platform full of free courses on mobility to have the opportunity to become an expert? It exists on Urban Mobility Courses (UMC) by EIT Urban Mobility and the European Union.

At the time of writing this post, it contained 36 online courses, from basic to intermediate level and two or more hours of duration. The access to the courses and materials is free. They use videos and articles in refeence media and if you want to obtain the certificate there is the need of paying less than 10 euros. This way you can show them off and use in your resumé.

Regarding urban cycling, there are six courses made by experts such as Georg Liu and Lior Steinberg.

The eight fields in which to specialize are:

  • A stronger, accessible, high-quality public transport system

  • Enhanced options for active mobility like walking and cycling

  • Better management of mobility flows through digital solutions

  • Multimodal stations and hubs that connect all modes of transport

  • Streamlined urban logistics, last-mile delivery, and consolidation centers

  • Zero-emission vehicles and high availability of recharging points

  • Efficient on-demand and shared mobility services

  • Effective local policies and measures discouraging individual car use

Bicycle song by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Leave a reply

Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of the most important, international rock band in Los Angeles. I am sure you have listen to many songs from it, but perhaps Bicycle song is new to you. It was included as a bonus track in the By the Way disc re-edition in 2006. It talks about pedaling is similar to fly, to transcend, to mutate, when Anthony Kledis sings How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention?. The song deals with love and the idea of referring to the bicycle spirit is something that fits like a glove.

Bicycle Song lyrics:

Here she comes in a suit and tie
Shepard’s bush and a leopard’s pie
She marching to the funky beat of
James Brown and his dancing feet
Going to set your fish on fire
Pistol whipping of desire
So please do not resist your fate
I’ll pick you up, yes it’s a date

How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention?
Sitting there in a silent movie
Beside the only girl who really ever knew me
Happy days, but sad I’m facing
Heaven knows that I’m on the case
How could I forget to mention the bicycle?

Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse

A sticky finger and a wicked taste
Got a lot of love and a lyrical case
Be sure to write it in your book
I promise not to look
Want to smell your sunny face
Funny place but it’s never a waste
I’d hop this fence to make amends
I hope this movie never ends

How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention?
Make it up, making you my business
A funny buttercup but I lend her forgiveness
Happy days, but sad I’m facing
Heaven knows that I’m on the case
How could I forget to mention the bicycle?

Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse
Somebody told the world
The beauty of your verse
My girl, I heard it first
The beauty of your verse