The Christiania trike
The Christiania trike
What is it?
Essentially
a back-to-front tricycle with a plywood box on the front for shopping,
dogs or kids. The bike was invented in Copenhagen’s Christiania commune
30 years ago and is now a Danish design icon.
What’s it like to ride?
Tricky
to get the hang of, especially round corners. I found it helped to
think of it not as steering a normal bike but like riding a bike and
pushing a pushchair at the same time. Pick up any speed, though, and
the whole thing goes haywire. Its bulk has a great psychological effect
on the rider and on passing bus drivers, who give you a wide berth
rather than cutting you up as they would other cyclists. Riding it home
round Hyde Park Corner during a sweltering Friday rush hour was not,
however, the most relaxing way to test this theory.
What’s it like for passengers?
Esme
(seven) and Max (three) loved it. They had their own seats, with
seatbelts (including a toddler harness for Max). There was a rain cover
(with window) for inclement weather, or just to make it feel like a
den. And they loved the attention the bike drew from passers-by. All of
their friends had rides – at one point I had three seven-year-olds in
the box at once.
Feature continues
Good for…
Riding through Dulwich
Park on a sunny Saturday morning to take the kids to their swimming
lesson made me question the need for ever having a car. As well as
using it for school runs, other people use the Christiania for
shopping, taking their dogs to the park or, if the website photos are
to be believed, getting married. The owner of the shop says he even
takes his on the train when he goes on holiday.
Bad for…
This
is not really a commuter bike. You can’t get up much speed, you can’t
dodge through traffic, and it’s hard work up hills. Storage is also a
problem if you don’t have off-street parking. This is not one to prop
up in your front hall.
Where do I get one in London?
Velorution,
just off Oxford Street, has a selection of Christiania bikes, as well
as other unconventional cycles. They cost from £915 new, though can
also be rented at £20 for the day, £35 for the weekend and £95 for a
week (all refundable if you decide to buy).
Velorution, 18 Great
Titchfield St, W1 (020 7637 4004/www.velorution.biz) Great Portland St,
Oxford Circus or Regent’s Park tube. Open Mon-Fri 8.45am-6.45pm, Sat
10.30am-6.30pm.
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3 comments
Time Out PLEASE edit this article and stop recommending Londoners give their money to people with these views (link as above):
"One of the reason Euro 08 has been such a pleasure to watch is the sharp reduction in foul play, cheating and diving, cynical fouls and bad tackling. This welcome maturing of the beautiful game is probably a consequence of the cross-border migration of players: the elite players feel they belong to a community of international footballers.
It is a case of spontaneous raising of ones standard of fair play. In London instead the opposite seems to be happening: in my evening meanders around town, whenever I am in an area with predominance of Africans, Jews, South Asians, Cockneys or other uncivilised lovers of black tinted windows, the respect for vulnerable road users sinks to Thirld World levels. Here we have a risk of falling to the lowest denominator.
The difference between the two situations is that European football is governed by a fairly enlightened administration, whereas London is policed by a bunch of ignorants coming from Essex or other provincial outposts.
The Dutch recognise the problem they have and openly talk about it: dark-skinned immigrants do not cycle and that lowers the standards of the nation. [UPDATE: please see further comments here]. Boris, who is proud of his lack of political correctness, should tell immigrants: “You don’t want to share the road? Go back to your Mugabe’s and Talibans” and to the Police: “This is London, not Dagenham or Luton; either you crack down on aggressive driving, or we send you back to the provinces”.
It is a matter of raising standards, by getting rid of those who lower them."
These are no doubt perfect for cycling around a car-free alternative commune like Christiania. I recently saw a woman, smiling broadly, cycling her way around Old Street roundabout. In the plywood box attached to its front were three small children. The reactions of people who witnessed this ranged from dumbstruck disbelief to outright abuse. To say that this trike gives a commanding road presence is rubbish - the box is 18 inches off the road ! This means there is a good likelihood a bus or van wouldn't see it at all. Fine in a park or commune, madness on London roads.
Just in case you are thinking about giving money to Velorution, you might want to have a quick look at their blog to read the racist and inflammatory views of its owner, Andrea. Among other things, he singles out "dark-skinned immigrants" and calls for bad drivers from ethnic groups he disapproves of to "go back to your own country". (http://www.velorution.biz/?p=1450 and its follow-up posts, which are even worse)