Bicycles
I did some street photography while in the Netherlands last week. Summer sun, and all the people are out and about in the city.
Instead of shooting the fabled stories of canals, I train my camera on the bicycle brigades and how the folk park their vehicle. I notice bicycles are a common public transport that does not discriminate the social status among the working class.

Here is the series of 30 images I captured while wandering the streets of Amsterdam and The Hague.
Comments
Cars have lost their social status in europe already more than 30 years ago.
And a bycicle is THE means of transportation since a car is a damned expensive hobby due to petrol prices / insurance / roadtax.
Posted by: Albert
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June 12, 2006 09:12 AM
Ah...Amsterdam-the ultimate City of Sin. Did you have a good time frolicking the Red Light District? And did you visit the Heineken Brewery?
Guess that you must have missed the Keukenhof Gardens or have you been there before?
JEFF OOI says: Indeed, I went to the Red Light District twice in so few days. First, my local friends brought us there for a 'familiarisation tour'. The second time I explored it myself to visit the "World Journalism Exhibition 06' which was held at the Old Church, smacked right in the centre of Read Light District. True enough, I missed the Keukenhof Garden as I had to rush for an appointment at The Hague and another little European country.
Posted by: howsy
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June 12, 2006 10:15 AM
Bicycle is the way of modern transportation! I want to cycle to work but then the traffic conditions here is not condusive and the irrational motorist on the streets. It would be suicidal to cycle alone.
www.kakibasikal.com
Posted by: Dangerous Variable
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June 12, 2006 10:50 AM
Dangerous Viable
Even in Holland you got to be suicidal to ride a bike.....
But if you got cut by a car or so, you give him a firm scolding or a finger up, or by accident lift a shoe along his doors (the people dont wear flip-flops), so he has a souvernir of a few hundred euro's.
Posted by: Albert
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June 12, 2006 11:43 AM
Dangerous Viable
Even in Holland you got to be suicidal to ride a bike.....
But if you got cut by a car or so, you give him a firm scolding or a finger up, or by accident lift a shoe along his doors (the people dont wear flip-flops), so he has a souvernir of a few hundred euro's.
Posted by: Albert
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June 12, 2006 11:44 AM
Lucky devil you..my last trip to europe was almost 10 years ago..sigh. Nice pics, but subjects appears cluttered (sorry, not really qualified to criticize because haven't indulged in any serious photography for about 20 yrs).
Back to reality..if we had bicycles parked like that in Malaysia, it would be lost to thieves, esp. scrap metal thieves, in 3 seconds flat.
Posted by: daniel
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June 12, 2006 12:30 PM
If you are in Copenhagen, look out for yellow colored bikes parked at the parking areas.
Use a Danish Coin ( 10 kroner) to unlock the bike and you can start cycling freely all over the city. Return the bike to any parking bay and take beck your 10 kroner(60 kupang).
In Subang Jaya, the authority cannot even maintain the road shoulders safely for walking pedestrian. Shame shame!!
Posted by: cto
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June 12, 2006 02:14 PM
Hey CTO, do not just blame the "authority" lah... rather it is the MENTALITY of MALAYSIANS that ooh... "FREE" bicycles, so I will take it home! Sad but true. If i tell you there are MORE honest people in NZ, you will say I am bull shiting but how do u explain the following:
I left my Nikon auto focus camera at a MacDonald joint and rush back after I got home. The manager said someone hand in the camera and after I told him what model it is, I was given back the camera.
My daughter dropped her wallet by the bus stop and I took her home after she called because we thought it was left at home. While looking for it the phone rang and it was the Central Police Station, her wallet was handed in!
Just last week our manager left her wallet of cards and money on the train and what do you know, two hours later a person call and told her he left it at the train station!
Coincidence? Tell me how many of those items will be return if lost in KL, Penang... Malaysia.
It is the mentality, the mind set... no amount of education can teach you that.
Same, I was amazed when I was in Coopenhagen and noticed those coin activated council bicycle!
Posted by: cyleow
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June 12, 2006 05:51 PM
Hallo cyleow, I did not expect MPSJ to provide free bicycle when they cannot maintain the road shoulder for pesdestrian. Drain covers are also not save in Malaysia, so it is stupid to demand free bycycle!
I am providing info to Malaysians to look out for free bicycles to enjoy the time in Copenhagen.
Posted by: cto
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June 12, 2006 07:33 PM
The sight of these bicycles remind me of the lyrics
Daisy, Daisy
Give me your answer do
I'm half crazy all for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you look sweet
Upon a seat
Of a bicycle built for two.
and for the evil mind it can be altered to
Daisy Daisy show me your g..... land
I am half crazy over the love for you.
Lift up your frock
I s.... in my c....
On a bicycle wheeled for two.
Posted by: multidimid
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June 12, 2006 08:43 PM