Cargo bikes like you have never seen before

Cool bikes September 23rd, 2011

It’s worth checking out Alain Delormes’s photos of Chinese cargo bikes and the people riding them.

A reader just pointed out that the original site (Huffington Post) updated their site to clarify the photos are digitally altered. It did look a little over the top . . . .

–EBR

5 Responses to “Cargo bikes like you have never seen before”

  1. Kyle Says:

    Neat photos, but it is worth noting that the article indicates they are photoshopped to accentuate the loads.

  2. Janet Says:

    I have a problem with digitally altered photojournalism.

  3. Chuck Says:

    They may have been photoshopped, but I can tell you that I saw some loads of cardboard that were two-tiered high. Those Chinese really use bikes for their recycling.

  4. Chuck Says:

    BTW — I should say, I’m just back from China as of Monday.

  5. Kat Says:

    I can second the amazing feats of balance shown by Chinese cardboard haulers (among others). I lived in a semi-rural part of Jiangsu province for a year; the farmers regularly rode to market with their entire inventory strapped (somehow) to their bicycles (crates of vegetables, eggs, squawking ducks, maybe a pig…with chickens tied upside down to the outside of the whole perambulating structure!). And they had to maneuver through full-speed truck traffic. Usually with flat tires, because bike pumps were expensive, if you could even find one.

    Full-size appliances, vehicle engines…you name it, there’s probably someone hauling it by bike somewhere.

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