Trendspotting at the mall

Giant suburban malls are not usually places where I look for examples of bike culture.

Car culture at the parking lot of Old Orchard shopping mall in Skokie.

However, as I was passing one yesterday, a duo of teenage girls riding an old-fashioned tandem caught my eye. I didn't want to freak them out by taking their picture, so I waited until they locked up.

Still not as many bikes as cars...

While checking out the tandem, I noticed that the very small bike rack at this very large mall, was full. I don't think I've every seen more that a couple bikes locked there in the past.

Cool old Schwinn tandem ridden by two teens to the mall.

Curiously, over the last few days, I've been seeing quite a few people on old tandems here and there: a couple on the bike route that runs in front of my house, the two girls at Old Orchard, a few more on a suburban path, and a guy riding one solo down Western Ave. Is it a revival? Is this just another example of people dusting off whatever old bike they have in their garage, and using it instead of a car? Has anyone else been spotting more tandems on the street?

Comments

[2whls3spds]

WOW! They actually have BIKE RACKS at a mall...who would have thought! The mall right down the street from me doesn't have bike racks, or light poles or signs or much of anything else to lock to. It is built like some type of fortress with limited entrances...they have also discussed moving the bus stops further away to discourage the "wrong type" of people from coming in and roaming the malls. *rolleyes*

Aaron