German journalist tries to rent pedal-bike in Vegas

[spinningmagnets]

He was there for the Consumer-Electronics-Show (CES), An amusing two minute read. I clicked on the article using Google Chrome, which translated it into coarse English.

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html

 

[cal3thousand]

Interesting story.

The unease for bikers in US cities is not surprising. I think that's why we keep seeing these new ideas for urban transportation toys like the "one wheels".

The whole time I read the story, I couldn't help but think that there is an opportunity for someone to make a business out of it.

 

[izeman]

'only the homeless ride bikes in lv'. funny. the first police officer on a bike i saw was, you guess it: in las vegas. two of them blocking a lane, blue/red flashing lights turned on, checking a car. this was about 20 years ago.
so it's cops and homeless

 

[amberwolf]

Given that in Vegas, if there is a business opportunity then there is almost certainly already at least one or a dozen businesses exploiting it to the max, I'd suspect that there is something specific (a law, perhaps) preventing such businesses from existing. It might just be an attitude problem, of course, rather like that here in Phoenix AZ, where it's pretty much all flat yet bicycles appear to be primarily thought of as for thieves, kids, homeless, DUI-ers that can't get a license anymore, people that got their vehicles reposessed but still have to get to work, and "cycle nuts". At least, depending on area that's often how I see them responded to.

There's always exceptions, and there's police on bikes, too, here and there. There's lots of bicycles here--but they aren't normally a primary mode of transportation for hardly anyone that has any other choice.

 

[zombiess]

There use to be Pedicabs on the strip, but the taxi cab companies complained and lobbied, ran them out through regulation.

If you aren't wearing Lycra and ride a bike in Vegas you are most likely very poor or homeless.

 

[Dauntless]

I start off the German version seeing "Jetpacks" and I'm thinking this is one wild time. "ist katastrophal," sounds like it might be caused by a wienerdog attack. Time to get the real story in der Google:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html%3Fview%3Dzoom%3Bzoom%3D1&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html%26biw%3D1098%26bih%3D678

 

[dingoEsride]

I don't have Google chrome but googled a translated version instead,

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCES%2BUneasy%2BRider:%2BRadfahren%2Bin%2BLas%2BVegas%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DsqD%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=de&u=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html%3Fwt_mc%3Drss.ho.beitrag.rdf&usg=ALkJrhi6jnCSffEztRzujAUDjjNfYx-1CA ,

Traveling in Europe by rail is so good cause you can cheaply rent a bike hire store located near the station where you got off so they are a bit spoiled in that way and what better way to see the place at you own pace, unless you are a gambler, but for me it would be museums and other attractions so by bike is the winner

 

[izeman]

I start off the German version seeing "Jetpacks" and I'm thinking this is one wild time. "ist katastrophal," sounds like it might be caused by a wienerdog attack. Time to get the real story in der Google:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html%3Fview%3Dzoom%3Bzoom%3D1&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Uneasy-Rider-Radfahren-in-Las-Vegas-2087813.html%26biw%3D1098%26bih%3D678

wow. google translate is even worse german -> english now i know why i can't follow any of these russian forum conversations translated by google. you better learn german to read this article, there may a lot be lost in tranlation. *ggg*

 

[TheBeastie]

Good read, the whole time I was reading it I had the accent of Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heros in the back of my mind reading it to me

 

[Dauntless]

you better learn german to read this article, there may a lot be lost in tranlation. *ggg*

I know nothink, NO THINK!

 

[The fingers]

It's Vegas silly, not Amsterdam. :wink:
Years ago, we had 4 German tourists that were befriended on a return flight from Europe stay with us for a couple of days.. They had to wait to get their rental car for they were getting a big American convertible to ride around town so they could enjoy the sights with the top down; Disneyland, the beach, Knott's Berry Farm, the mountains, Hollywood, etc. The main English speaker told us of his big fancy Audi back home, how nice is the speedy Autobahn, and how Germany was technologically and culturally superior to the rest of the developed world. I told him I wouldn't trade my Jeep Wrangler 4x4 (with soft removable top) for an Auid sedan even if it had 4wd. (darn city wheelers )
Imagine how we laughed when they pulled up in front of the house in a VW Rabbit Cabriolet (German for convertible) with the top down and their luggage piled on their laps like a bunch of Bavarian hillbillies. He specifically told the rental agency they wanted a "cabriolet" and that's exactly what they got. :lol: