Bike Culture and Design in the Triangle

Years ago, Mark Twain wrote “Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live.”

Bike and bike culture is alive and strong in the Triangle area, with avid mountain bikers, bike commuters, and lots of pathways and trails to ride a bike, it’s a great place to ride.

The 4th Merry Mingle Event on December 3rd benefits the Triangle Spokes Group, an organization that raises funds to purchase bicycles to donate to kids in need. The goal for this year is 550+ bicycles—all brand new and ready to pedal down the street.

This week, with bikes on my mind, I headed out to a variety of places in the Triangle area that have interesting examples of bike related design. In Durham, I headed to Bullseye Bicycle Repair, where they have interesting light fixtures, cases, and even a chair made from bike parts.

In Raleigh at Designbox, LLC shop, I found several bike-themed designs made by local designers, including tea towels by Tiny Peepers; t-shirts and prints by Matt Butler; and a Share the Road print by Darling and Dear.

After that, I headed to the unique animal bike racks located near Chuck’s restaurant on Wilmington St., and to Crank Arm Brewery, which has interesting bike themed art, a bike map of the area, and a great logo that is seen in metal, steel, and other places in the bar.

 

All Images © Copyright 2013 Kristen Baumlier, All Rights Reserved.

Get your tickets to the 4th annual Merry Mingle, hosted by the Triangle chapters of AAF, AIGA, AMA, TIMA, & TRIUXPA.
About the Author

Kristen Baumlier is an artist and designer and is currently developing a interactive project called Food Font. Baumlier’s work was a finalist in the Where Do You Give? design contest, and a prototype of her interactive game design has been exhibiting across the U.S. since 2012. Baumlier taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art for over 12 years in the areas of interactive design and integrated media, and recently moved to the Triangle area.

By Kristen Baumlier
Published November 26, 2013