NAME: Lieven Loots
LOCATION: Southern Italy, 40 km south of Naples
OCCUPATION: Archaeologist, cycling and trekking guide
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I kinda hate riding in the city, because I like to live, but with average motoring speeds in Italy’s main cities Rome and Milan down to 25 km/hour, and never any parking space available, it makes a lot of sense strapping on a pair of cycling shoes. Italians of course have found an alternative to both car and bicycle: speeding around on scooters! Which make things for cyclists even worse. Motorists here have no clue about how to behave around cyclists, and arrive at actually threatening you if you get in their way.
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
I lived the first 27 years of my live in Flanders, Belgium, using bicycles as daily transportation. Cycling in any Dutch or Flemish city is actually rewarding, as they generally take good care of their cyclists – and then, hey, cities are flat over there.
Why do you love riding in the city?
I visited New York as a pedestrian several years ago, long before the cycling bug got to me, and I would love to get some cycling kicks in the Big Apple. Aah, must have read too much messenger hip lately.
NAME: Chelsea Castillo
LOCATION: San Francisco, CA
OCCUPATION: Sold my soul to Whole Foods
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
Living in San Francisco is amazing and being able to race around the city dodging buses and taxis and plenty of pedis, it just makes it all the more exciting.
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
I loved riding in Chicago, but SF has got to be my favorite.
Why do you love riding in the city?
The constant thrill. Whether riding over all the hills on Polk just to see the water at sunset or racing inbetween the cars down Market hoping to simply not get hit. My heart is constantly racing when I’m riding and there is nothing better than getting sweaty and feeling the wind beat across
my face.
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…
If you aren’t riding here, you need to. Grab a crappy bike from the Goodwill, fix it up and get to pumping your legs.
Once you dodge traffic in the city and get hit by a bus and three cars and just get up and keep riding, you know you’re hooked for life.