How to Bike Like a Local in Copenhagen - Article Example

Critical Analysis Introduction The article selected refers to the Copenhagen bikers around the and how to fit in the densely populous capital of Denmark. The piece written by Maryellen Duckett is directed towards the ideas that are beyond the guidebooks and also are much more practical. Through the article she tries to give the ideas through about the society of Denmark, the people of Denmark and their practices in terms of commuting. Different aspects of the commuting through bikes is then discussed from the buying of bikes to their daily routines, the places where they eat, repair their bikes and combine together to follow up on their pursuit to be a proud Copenhagen biker. Classification of Article For the purpose of understanding, the article is put under the section of “Beyond the Guidebook: Where locals go” This section is prominently filled with local writers from their specified region and countries who give a deep insight about their culture and the way things happen in their countries. It is then a more precise updating guidebook than a hard copy of a book. Beyond the Guidebook by its name tries to work within the locally crafted culture of a country, for the instance of this article Copenhagen’s biking culture, and tried to help towards conformity under that culture. Writer’s desk This specific piece that can be now found on National Geographic website was first published in the November 2013 issue of the Traveler magazine. She is an American travelling writer who has been published around almost all the travelling websites and magazines around the U.S. Through her deep outlook towards being open to different cultures, she tries to portray her practices into helping other likeminded people out in terms of when they are travelling to different places. Although by the first sight of it, a person seems to be much caught by the topic but after reading the whole article, it talks very briefly about bikes and is divided amongst spending a day around Copenhagen. It covers topics such as where to eat, what to see, where to do photography etc. Photographic Emphasis Throughout the length of the article, there are different pictures that are directly intact with the articles headings. Giving a complete picture of what a person can expect during travelling to Copenhagen. It constitutes of a few selected pictures in which the main idea of Cyclist is emphasized through the depiction of cyclists standing by the traffic signals and cycling over their designated area. The pictures try to directly link the reader towards what was present in the pictures in Copenhagen. As the topic is then not just about cycling like a local it also looks into the deeper cultural aspect of the indigenous people of Denmark. Their drinking culture, their food culture and promotes through picture about their restaurants and places where a person can spend time during cycling. The photographs are then used to like both of the concepts into the promotion of Copenhagen culture of easily connected capital. Conceptual Emphasis When talking about the concept of the complete article, major first half is considered toward directly pointing out regarding the statistics of the cyclists around Copenhagen. It is then further given concentration by providing useful information such as places where to rent bikes to roam around the friendly biking city. The article is also a safety guide as how to be aware of all the rules while riding the bike such as putting the handlebar bell to inform other pedestrians or not being allowed to go right on a red light. Familiarizing with the language used around the biking community the article also tells which signs to spot while riding a bike and which areas to go which are completely designed for the bikers. Cultural Emphasis Culture being an important part of any major article is also shared through the light of talking about bikes. The article is handled in such as way that a reader is drifted from being on a friendly riding city of biker’s to stop at different places to eat, sleep, and take quality photographs. The cultural aspect in this piece is very limited. It only talks about a few selected restaurants to try their dishes as well as only a few places to try their cultural drinks. Looked upon on the photographical cultural aspect, it only suggests to capture them in a certain angle rather than encouraging them to learn from those culturally rich surroundings. Insights The cultural representation around Copenhagen is shared through the food course suggested by the writer and the very inside travelers living space such as Central Café and Hotel. The most connecting part of the provided cultural aspect is the amount of quick detailing facts that are present in the articles from the name of the place to live, the streets and views and the references as to how to reach. The same is done with the food where the name of the restaurant and chef’s special dish information is given. Cultural suggestions to relate and visitation of bars is another prospect on which the author tries to share that the city itself is divided on the classical modern outlook. The comparison of all these is then suggested by the author to read about the deep culture through specific books. Those books are related to the drinking places around the city and also much like a food guide for the visitors coming to Copenhagen. Safety guidelines The writer also tries to emphasis on the cultural safety and encouragement towards the biking community. With the support of thousands of riders of the city, it has then become one of the cultural identities of Copenhagen that provides a safe and comfortable bike rides around the city. In this way the writer has tried to provide with proofs regarding how much a person can travel and how much culturally involved one can be being about a bike. The ease of access is also an emphasis to which people are given a clearer on the spot view about what that community usually does. Introduction of connecting ideas In handling cases to connect different dots, the article is much more limited. The length and the specifications are much shorter and limited. The article doesn’t fully complete the idea of the biking and the feelings of being a biker around Copenhagen. Lagging in limited details about the general outlooks of being a biker, the article tried to connect of travelling around with the bike rather than how does an average biker or a local biker spends the weekend or the afternoon, through travelling, work or in general just living. Biking culture could’ve been divided amongst many things as not just where to rent or buy it but why does this concept exist in the city. There is less background knowledge for the writer to clearly share the selected topic. It rather drifts of towards the hotel, food and drinking part of the article. In the last half of it, the article completely forgets about the bikes and talks about the photography aspect. There isn’t much conclusion towards what to do next, it is rather just a day guide towards the city. Hence, it only touches towards breaking any new ground of what already is much easier found in the guidebooks related towards biking activities. Expert Opinions The opinions provided in the article as comments are limited towards the cyclist views, it seems they do agree with what is written but not at all talk about the half of where the food, living and photographical advice is shared. It is also seen through the expert’s opinions that they are primarily only interested as to what the topic was promised to talk about. The comments also share a collection of cultural differences about how a bike is used in some part of another country as to how it is used in Copenhagen, which clearly show the different practices of the same idea around the world and contributes towards the findings of the writer. The comments of the locals and the expert opinions also suggest how the same can be also found in different parts of the world with variable information in regard to the way of riding the bike and following certain rules in those areas. Conclusion Much can be written about the biking around Copenhagen in this regard, the article in many ways pulls the traveler to try this but at the same time with the lack of information regarding the practical culture of the topic provided fails to do so. It is much needed starter idea towards researching more about the culture but is not concrete enough to provide definite findings of the culture of Copenhagen. Other articles give a much catchier outlook towards how and why people have been following the same driving techniques throughout the time. The article does present towards a great basic cultural expectation for the reader. The specifics given regarding how, where, what and when to try in terms of food or living space enables the article to not being just about the bike but it can then be considered towards a cultural article that emphasis from biking culture towards spending a day in the world safest biking city. References Duckett, M. (November, 2013). How to Bike Like a Local in Copenhagen. Intelligent Travel. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2013/12/09/how-to-bike-like-a-local-in-copenhagen/ Copenhagen on two wheels. (2012). Visit Denmark. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://www.visitdenmark.com/copenhagen/activities/copenhagen-two-wheels Lindholm, L. (2012) cycling in copenhagen - the easy way. Cycling in Copenhagen. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/bicycle-culture/cycling-in-copenhagen---the-easy-way/ DeMaio, P. J. (2003). Smart bikes: Public transportation for the 21st century. Transportation Quarterly, 57(1), 9-11. Read More