After sitting on this blog and doing practically nothing with it for the past year, I've decided to re-publish it with a new name and a new title: Bloominghagen. The inspiration for this blog came from the bicycle culture in Copenhagen and the sites that promote it (see links to the right). Copenhagen made the decision around forty years ago to promote a culture where bicycles were a primary mode of transport. Over the last few decades, the city has closed down roads to vehicular traffic, created a vast network of paths and segregated bike lanes, and encouraged other bike-friendly infrastructure, such as bike elevators to and from the subway and bike racks everywhere. As a result, 55% of all trips are made by bicycle, and 37% of commuters to and from work or school choose to go by bike. I don't see any reason why a similar investment here couldn't have the same result.
I believe part of the problem with Bloomington's lack of bike culture is that bicycles have for too long been the province of recreational riders or competitive athletes, those who don helmets and spandex and other fancy apparel. Also, our culture has developed a fear of bicycling, believing that it is a dangerous activity. But it doesn't have to be this way. I hope to show, by photographing individuals riding in regular clothing and doing regular things, that a bicycle can be a fantastic and easy mode of transportation, and you don't need any special equipment. More bicycles mean cleaner air, less noise, and safer streets for cars, pedestrians, and other bicycles alike.
So you want to help start a revolution? Dust off the bike. Put on your high heels and skirt. And hit the road!
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