Straphanger

Heading back towards my homeline's transfer station, I strike a reflective pose.

Mmmm!!! Kabobs!!!

The iconic representation to the right is easily recognizable to Beijingers, and on neighboring Dajiangfang Hutong is not an uncommon sight; where several establishments primarily operated by some of the City's ethnic-minority Moslem proprieters, enjoy a loyal clientele which cuts across ethnic and religious lines alike.

Street Level

The Jingling Hutong Station stop, on the newly opened Line 4 of the Beijing Subway System. Above ground, at street level, this popular jumping-off point is a vibrant mix of retail and restaurant establisments set against a series of historic Hutongs -- the narrow traditional neighborhoods of Beijing's past -- which are themselves full of thriving businesses; despite being tucked behind the more modern frontage of 21st Century commercial ventures.

Jingling Hutong station is conveniently augmented by a number of electric-line Bus-routes interconnected with the stop.

Subterranean Subtext

Preamble: I know this Blog is ostensibly about Biking, but with the platform available to me, I occassionally riff on other matters as well.

Now that the Olympic bid is a fading memory, maybe Hizzoner Da' Mayor can now retune and refocus on issues which could have a much more important and resonant impact on the legacy he seeks to impart on the City of Chicago.

As I detailed some time ago in my other Blog -- "Back in the PRC" --, when Mayor Daley visited Beijing during the opening of the 2008 Olympics, one of his first orders of business was to ride Beijing's newly built-out Subway system; a bright and shiny example of what a mass transit rail system can aspire to be.

Beijing hasn't rested on its laurels either, as this preview of the newly opened "Line 4" shows. A follow-up report is also included here; as well as my own entries from the brief ride I myself took on Line 4 yesterday.


Beijing subway line 4 to open Friday CCTV-International


Subway line four begins service CCTV-International

Endangered Species

In case you hadn't noticed...

...seat cover of actual Cheetah pelt.

I guess it makes the Bike easier to pick-out in a crowded Bike Rack.

Fly Ride

My Father-in-Law's old-school Beijing Bicycle.

Meanwhile, I Was Still Thinking...

...a decision on the 2016 Summer Games is less than a day away, and if you polled Chicagoans, it seems that more of them would prefer watching the hometown Brazilian girls in Rio going sideout on Copacabana Beach, rather than North Avenue.

It just seems more likely that the IOC will prefer to take its privileged party down South America way for the first time. Let's see how the money reacts -- will the networks and advertisers refuse to bid up for a non-U.S. Games; or will a buzzer-beating effort by Obama ensure a slam dunk victory for Chicago?

Me? I'm just thinking about Lunch...

Standard Issue Beijing Bikes

Bikes parked in front of
Yinghuayuan Buiding No A8, Hepingjie Beikou.

Chilling in Beijing

Neighborhood Bike Repair

Hepingjie Beikou, Chaoyang District

Note the fine accessories on the "shop" wall...