Life on Two Wheels
Bicycles are everywhere and many are modified to accommodate several passengers. It’s like the circus is in town every day! Still, I’m reminded of a visit I made to a hospital in Managua in 1991 and the doctors noting that while they used to have daily arrivals of the war-injured, now the most common emergency was “full-family motorcycle accidents.” When we first lived in Granada in 1994, bicycles were far less common and for most people prohibitively expensive. I’m not sure if bicycles have gotten cheaper or economic growth has enabled a surge in purchases, but either way the streets are often jammed with them and we daily witness near collisions between bikes and cars that make our hair stand on end. Below, a sampling of the bicycling life in Granada.
The other day we walked toward Lake Granada and as we strolled we saw this man and his baby girl hurtling down the street. They probably weren’t going as fast the photo looks, but it was still a startling sight. The girl balanced on the crossbar, with her arm around her father's neck. I love the natural confidence that exudes from them, as if to say, “Doesn’t every family travel this way?” I've seen other versions of the same style of multiple riders, for example, father on the seat, mother on the crossbar, and small child in her lap with the child's legs hung over the handle bars. It's a little unnerving to watch.
Coming back from that same walk we chanced upon another group of bicycles, again sporting multiple passengers. They’d just whirled around one corner and were making for the next when I snapped open my camera. As the Tour de France had just started and I felt immediately transported to some countryside turn along the route, watching teams of racers zip by. These Granadino riders took the corner in front of this newly restored house and were gone. Luckily, I caught this brief but beautiful moment.
Bicycle modifications are numerous and multiform. There’s nothing that some duct tape and arc welding kit can’t seem to do, whether it’s attach a rack or an extra seat. This guy went against the trend of utility toward personal safety and ornamentation. We almost missed his bike, but somehow I caught the steering wheel out of the corner of my eye. I walked back and asked if I could take a picture of him and his bike. He assented and then leaned over and honked the horn. He’d stripped the steering wheel from a car, horn and all, attached it and then wired it to a battery that was strapped under his seat. I still wonder how easy it is to steer the thing, but at least people can hear him coming.
The other day we walked toward Lake Granada and as we strolled we saw this man and his baby girl hurtling down the street. They probably weren’t going as fast the photo looks, but it was still a startling sight. The girl balanced on the crossbar, with her arm around her father's neck. I love the natural confidence that exudes from them, as if to say, “Doesn’t every family travel this way?” I've seen other versions of the same style of multiple riders, for example, father on the seat, mother on the crossbar, and small child in her lap with the child's legs hung over the handle bars. It's a little unnerving to watch.
Coming back from that same walk we chanced upon another group of bicycles, again sporting multiple passengers. They’d just whirled around one corner and were making for the next when I snapped open my camera. As the Tour de France had just started and I felt immediately transported to some countryside turn along the route, watching teams of racers zip by. These Granadino riders took the corner in front of this newly restored house and were gone. Luckily, I caught this brief but beautiful moment.
Bicycle modifications are numerous and multiform. There’s nothing that some duct tape and arc welding kit can’t seem to do, whether it’s attach a rack or an extra seat. This guy went against the trend of utility toward personal safety and ornamentation. We almost missed his bike, but somehow I caught the steering wheel out of the corner of my eye. I walked back and asked if I could take a picture of him and his bike. He assented and then leaned over and honked the horn. He’d stripped the steering wheel from a car, horn and all, attached it and then wired it to a battery that was strapped under his seat. I still wonder how easy it is to steer the thing, but at least people can hear him coming.
posted by Justin at 3:20 PM
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