India and China are nearby and they use the bicycle extensively.
Though they also want to leave it behind for the outcasts and want to
embrace CAPITALISM with full power, ie. SUVs and all.
In this clip of Kabul, you don't see the homeless, a staple of Western
capitals, but you do see a few bikes, riding against traffic, whatever
it takes to survive in chaos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZyHX3KqSl0&feature=related
----------------------------------------------
WHEN THE REVOLUTION IS THE SOLUTION
(I quote)
We ran a photo essay in our March issue that showed the renascent bike
culture of Kabul coming back to life after the Taliban had headed for
the hills. Colonel Derik Crotts, an American public affairs officer
for the commander of NATO who subscribes to the magazine, contacted us
and said, in effect, I know you do thes projects in Africa. Why not do
one in Afghanistan?
Because there's a war going on there, I thought as I read his email.
Still, I replied, saying I was intrigued.
Crotts called me about 90 seconds after I sent the email. His pitch
was bourbon-smooth and effortless. Fifty bikes, he said. We'll give
some to orphans, some to NGOs, some to the Afghan Cycling Federation.
But 50 bikes and the spare parts and tools needed to build them and
keep them running weigh about two tons, I said. Kind of hard to get
over the Khyber.
We'll fly them in on a transport plane, he said.
But Afghanistan is dangerous, I said.
It's not bad in Kabul, he said. You'll stay on a military compound,
and we'll give you body armor and a helmet.
Great. Body armor. I feel safer already.
That was two months ago. Today, I'm sitting in the lobby of the
Brussels Airport Sheraton, drinking coffee and waiting for our team to
assemble, Ocean's Eleven-style. I have my mechanic, my fixer, my video
guy. I have the mightiest army known to history protecting me.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-madden/biking-afghanistan-depart_b_102488.html
Even if you commute on a dual suspension mountain bike, those streets
are awful! Yet more proof that the automobile has destroyed the urban
landscape!
Cullen
If Afghanistan we can expect the Humvees and tanks to put potholes
everywhere, thus it must be a magnificent place to go mountain biking.
The IED's leave extra deep obstacles.