A few weeks ago I was on NE Broadway and 15th when I looked up and saw this woman and her peculiar bike. After a moment or two I realized it was an authentic “bakfiets” (Dutch for container bicycle) straight from Holland…and so was the rider, given her strong, confident, blond, helmetless style.
Not surprisingly, she told me she imported the bike from her former home town in Amsterdam.
Bakfiets are common in Holland for cargo, family, pets, whatever. I think they’d do very well in Portland and I have a hunch we’ll be seeing more of these around town in the future.
In fact, judging from this recent post in the Portland Bike Forums, at least one is already on its way.
Flickr photo: Breigh.com
According to resident euro know-it-all Todd “Bakfiets” Boulanger, there’s finally a U.S.-based distributor for dutch bikes.
I think there’s a good business opportunity for someone to sell these in Portland. Can’t you just picture a Bakfiets Boutique in the Pearl District?
[*Editor’s note: Yes, I realize the people in these photos do not have helmets. If you comment, please resist the urge to point this out. Thank you.]