guest post from Grote Gracht 86

many streets in Maastricht are being remade at the moment by skilled tradesmen from Portugal.

you might notice on the far side a broken white line?

that's part of the bike lane...     :  )

you can get a sense of the sounds of hard work by listening to the recording here: 

many thanks to the photographers and sound recorders at number 86.

bicycle sounds safe

lately, as I've been riding around Maastricht, the bell on one of my bikes has been jingling along with every bump and cobblestone I ride over... while i like the gentle ringing sounds, it reminded me of how convenient it is, as a pedestrian, to hear bikes coming from behind you before deciding to cross the street.

no doubt you're less likely to blindly step out without looking if you can hear a noisy rattling thing approaching at speed.

and that is something to be thankful for - most of the bikes are old and noisy.

just don't assume that their brakes will work efficiently...



you can hear my jingling bell here:








to stimulate your eyes here's a little film of riding around Maastricht.

I didn't make the film and wouldn't have chosen the music that has been used...  but it does give you an additional sense of what it is like to ride around Maastricht.



)


 you could even watch it on mute and play this longer version of my bike sounds.






lastly, I wonder if there have been any unintended effects of making smoother (i.e. quieter) bike lanes?

bike radios and sound systems

my wife recently told me of the 1955 huffy bike with radio...

it got me reminiscing and is the inspiration for some of the forthcoming posts.



anyway, you can see it and, best of all, hear the 1955 version in the video below.








for something rather different, and for the young child in all of us, something a little more retro...






different times, styles and advertisements, but regardless the bike radio still appeals to or affects the state of mind of the rider in the same way.

rock on ride on!