Ways of cycling
Rwanda
Here in Rwanda, as you head towards the the city limits of Kigali, and often well into more rural areas, the number of bicycles on the road increases substantially.
At the outskirts of the city, bikes operate as taxis. The limit is one passenger. The taxi bikes can be colorful and adorned with small flairs and flourishes, like those of chicken buses in Guatemala and tuc-tucs in South East Asia.
In more rural areas, bikes are essential for transporting goods and cargo. Potatoes, bananas, sugar cane, grass fodder for cows, and bricks burden the bikes, while their owners walk along pushing them forward or holding them back on the steep downhills.
Riders also wear shoes with added padding on the soles. This padding is made of rubber tires cut to measure and glued to shoes and sandals.
Interestingly, there is one model of bicycle that dominates the landscape. From what I’ve seen, I’d say 90% of bicycles in Rwanda are of the same make and model. An Indian company makes and sells them, I’m told. It’s a no-frills, sturdy bike with a single gear.
I wonder if part of the appeal of having a widely-adopted standard model is so that bikes serve as the shipping containers of a landlocked country.
Interesting report on the use of bicycles in Rwanda.
And another article about cycling in Rwanda:
Japan
In Tokyo, bikes have a different purpose. They serve a purpose, mainly transportation, but the bike is also a means of expressing individuality and often even refined taste.
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