Will urban space change as a result, when young people fall in love with cycling

From the "last mile" to the "surrounding five kilometers", and then to the infinitely extendable leisure circle, more and more young people are no longer satisfied with cycling between their homes and subway stations. Cycling has become a new "interface" between them and the city. While changing their modes of transportation, it seems to have also changed the way they interact with the city.

So, under the cycling craze, which old spaces in the city have been activated? What new formats have been implanted? What kind of bridge is needed between the old space and the new business model?

When cycling creates a "negative" space

The starting route for Laura's cycling is the "North South Wall" along the Pudong waterfront.

This cycling road on the east bank of the Huangpu River is about 22 kilometers long. The starting point of the greenway is below the Yangpu Bridge, known as the "North Wall", and the ending point is under the Xupu Bridge, known as the "South Wall".

"North Wall"

At first, there were only two ordinary white walls here. After the artist created graffiti, the walls were not only colorful, but also painted with words such as "South Wall" and "North Wall", which gave these two walls a sense of ceremony and attracted more and more cyclists to take photos as souvenirs.

The so-called "negative" space under the bridge has become a "check-in area" and instantly becomes lively.

Coincidentally, the Suzhou River route of Dream Dream also includes "under the bridge".

Riding along the Suzhou River to the foot of the Wuning Road Bridge, she can take a break at the "Coffee Under the Bridge" and continue cycling towards the direction of the Beizhai Road Elevated Road. Along the way, she passes through the open road of East China University of Political Science and Law, and finally reaches the North Xinjing Station in Locke Park under the Beizhai Road Elevated Bridge, where she can continue to complete other activities such as jumping rope or jogging.

Photo by Dong Tianye, Coffee under the Bridge

Among them, the post station under the Wuning Road Bridge has now been transformed into an open "urban stand", which is paved with wooden boards and has reserved rest rooms at both ends. On one side of the stands, there is a caf é, vending machine, savings cabinet, and public restroom. On the other side, there is also a "mini exhibition hall" that can be flexibly changed to form an exhibition space or stage.

Locke Park is located under three elevated bridges, each with three themes: flamingo, zebra, and leopard. Different theme areas have various sports scenes such as fitness trails, basketball courts, and football fields. It is very suitable for both subsequent exercise and rest.

Rucker Park

Elliott's home is about 5 kilometers away from Locke Park, and even by public transportation, there is still about 1 kilometer to walk. After joining the cycling industry this year, he started cycling along the Suzhou River for commuting, and after work, he went to Rock Park to play ball, greatly increasing his frequency of sports.

The cycling route far from the city center, Shenlan Road, also contains a lot of "negative" space.

Cavalry enthusiasts told reporters that at the intersection of Shenlan Road and Shengui Road, there is an underground pedestrian walkway. The top of the walkway is separated by crossbeams, and the hollowed out part sheds sunlight every time the weather is clear, creating an excellent framing effect and creating an infinite extension of time and space. After entering Shenlan Road on the cycling route, the number of sections under the overpass bridge increases, and the towering pillars and rich greenery along the route can be molded into a "piece of land" artifact.

During cycling, many urban management details that were once overlooked become clearer. Laura said, "The underground passage is bright and clean, and the vegetation is lush under the overpass... These urban public services make up the landscape of our cycling."

Cavalry enthusiast Afei also feels the same way about this. Afei is a financial practitioner who works near Lujiazui. He told reporters that when he first rode the north-south wall route, he would basically stop at every Wangjiang post station. "I first discovered that the facilities at Wangjiang Post were particularly complete. Not only could you sit down and rest, chat with friends, but there were also vending machines providing water and drinks. During the day, you could even read books and drink hot water."

In his view, the reason why the North South Wall cycling route is considered the "light of beginners" cannot be ignored is because of the Wangjiang Post.

He also found that since cycling, his attention to urban public facilities and public spaces has increased. "The social attributes of cycling are not as high as imagined. We are more in contact with the city and its managers," he said.

In addition to the space under the bridge, many pocket parks in Shanghai have also become "footholds" that many cyclists will consider when planning their routes, such as Tagore Statue on Nanchang Road, "Xin · Jing" at the intersection of Xinhua Road, Entrance 6 of Xintiandi Metro Station, and Jialan Pavilion on Yongjia Road.

Jialanting Tianping Home

Taking Jialan Pavilion as an example, it is a square three-dimensional open space with red permeable bricks laid on the ground, and the overall style is coordinated with the neighborhood. A pocket coffee shop has been opened next to the park for convenient supply and stay. Due to the spacious and flexible space of Jialan Pavilion, creative markets are often held here, and many cyclists also consider it as a choice to enhance their cycling pleasure.

After joining cycling, Afei posted many cycling routes on online platforms. He said that there are many scraps of space in Shanghai that have actually become "stations" for cyclists. Everyone is happy to stay here, rest, consume, take photos, and spread these pleasures.

Continuously discovering "new neighbors"

While bringing vitality to public spaces, bicycles also facilitate the flow of people between different areas.

"Outside wutong District, there is also great Shanghai."

Tanya told reporters that the greatest pleasure of urban cycling is discovering new neighbors. After the radius of life expands, some new landscapes will take advantage of the situation.

For example, there is a small coffee shop under the Minpu Bridge. Although it is located in a relatively remote area, the view is excellent. Not only is the river breeze blowing, but you can also see the stunning sunset on the Pujiang River in the shadows of trees.

"Wild Coffee" is a cycling trail near the Pujiang Country Park. Photo by Xiao Yawen

This shop called "Wild Coffee" is located on the southeast side of Pujiang Country Park, with lush vegetation covering pure white containers. The wooden path extends from the forest to the riverbank, connecting several neatly arranged wooden platforms. Bamboo tables and chairs are placed on the platforms, and people resting here can vaguely see the sky over the river and the towering cables of Minpu Bridge.

Outdoor space facilitates bicycle parking. Photo by Xiao Yawen

This is one of the "surprise fragments" collected by Tanya and her cycling team during their over a year of urban cycling.

"If we didn't have bicycles, we might be confined to coffee shops near our doorstep or workplace. With bicycles, various types of coffee and scenery from the riverside, lakeside, village, and factory will appear in our lives."

Tanya is the organizer of the cycling club Cozyride. She told reporters that during the cycling process, many impressive small shops, landscapes, and businesses can be found. And these "little surprises" naturally became the foothold and rest stop of the cycling team.

At the same time, Xiaomo, the owner of "Wild Coffee", observed that since last year, there have been more and more outdoor consumers related to cycling and camping. "Compared to consumers who come by car, cyclists usually have a larger number of people and gather during good weather to provide energy for snacks, desserts, and other foods."

And "Wild Coffee" has also begun to make some improvements to the resting and stopping areas, making the consumption experience of cyclists better.

Xiao Mo regards this natural change as a "two-way rush", and in his opinion, urban small businesses should actively adapt and integrate into the new lifestyle trend.

With a bicycle, one can also discover even further neighbors.

On August 13th, more than ten members of Cozyride came to Panlong Tiandi to participate in an outdoor activity in collaboration with "Jumping Island Outdoor". They first gathered at "Keyboard Coffee", rode about 10 kilometers nearby, and then returned to the commercial area to continue other outdoor activities such as kayaking.

Among them, events such as water sports and night kayaking left a deep impression on cycling enthusiast Polaris. "I didn't expect to be able to row on weekends in Shanghai, and the waterways at night are dotted and very beautiful. Cycling has brought me many new attempts and helped me open up more diverse life and sports scenes."

When members immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and return to the "supply point" with the joy of exercise, whether it is the consumption of the exercise itself or the connection with local commercial activities, it is easy for consumers to generate "secondary consumption" similar to scenic spots in the local community commercial space.

No surprise, Polaris told us that due to cycling, Polaris and his friends have become very familiar with the business layout, commercial brand, and gaming atmosphere of Panlong Tiandi. Unconsciously, a relatively distant commercial space seems to have entered the hearts of young people.

Tanya's cycling team has been formed for less than two years, and the number of new neighbors in the team is also increasing.

Last year, Cozyride organized several cycling activities in the suburbs of the city, checking in at the One Foot Garden Tao Family Mansion and Nine Trees Shop. The sharing of riders on social media has attracted more consumers to pay attention to these scenic but distant "footholds".

"This year, more and more commercial spaces are paying attention to us, hoping to collaborate with cycling activities at the brand and operational levels." Tanya clearly feels that more and more people are seeing the value behind cycling. In her opinion, this may not only be related to temporary traffic, but also to the flow of young people behind the business and changes in consumption habits.

Entering daily consumption scenarios

So, what changes have occurred in urban commercial spaces driven by cycling?

In March of this year, a bicycle station named "RE Yiyi" opened in Zhangyuan, which is known for its precious land. Entering "Yiyi", the content of bicycles is not as high as imagined, and a large part of the space is handed over to clothing accessories and coffee and catering.

In my opinion, cycling and commuting are not contradictory. Photo by Xiao Yawen

At the entrance, the store manager Kiki casually picked up a beige patchwork shirt. Although it looked no different from a regular shirt, its fabric was more breathable and elastic. The patchwork was made of fabric with larger mesh holes to help the skin breathe. The edges of the shirt were made of special materials that reflected light in sunlight and light, providing maximum protection for the safety of cyclists.

Move the back pocket of the pants up; Deeper pockets and more three-dimensional cuts; The wide pants legs are designed with leggings and convenient hanging fabric buckles... The clothing and accessories here can meet the dual daily needs of commuting and leisure, as well as business and office. For experienced cyclists, the driving force behind consumption around cycling lies in these details that are integrated into daily life.

Going further inside, there is a bicycle modification and repair station and a bicycle themed meal bar. There are professional engineers in the repair station who provide bicycle modification and repair solutions. On the other side of the bar, there are cycling enthusiasts who come to consume. Kiki said that the menu design here references the dining standards and preferences of professional riders. The professional cycling space that arrived last only accounts for about one-third of the entire store.

According to Liu Zhifei, the Director of the Business Department of RE and Yi, coffee and clothing are the key to attracting customers, meeting their needs beyond car purchases through diversified product supply. "Retail will increasingly move towards contextualization, and only by integrating into people's daily lives can it leave a place in consumers' minds."

Unlike the stores in Zhangyuan, the "Re Station" on Wuyuan Road is another "lightweight" station model that mainly provides services for the cycling process, with more convenient and fast rental, maintenance, shower, and supply services.

The staff of Wuyuan Road store told reporters that when the stations for rest, dressing up, basic maintenance and other services are abundant enough, people will integrate cycling with daily life more closely. "We need to serve those who are cycling and truly curious about cycling, and help them solve practical problems."

In addition, there are various models of bicycles available for rent in this store, with a daily rent ranging from 130 yuan to 400 yuan, and the daily rent for bicycle helmets is 30 yuan. There is also a self-made cycling map in the store, and some car renters will use this map for city tours.

And a self-made bicycle tour map.

At present, this Base+Station strategy is effective. The user stickiness of "RE and Yi" is high, with more than half of the female population and an overall repurchase rate of over 60%. The average annual consumption of members can reach 50000 yuan. Among them, although the site is small in size, the conversion rate is very high.

"Although the consumption of bicycles is one-time, the corresponding supply and retail services are countless times." Liu Zhifei said that the change in transportation methods will inevitably bring about a series of adjustments in the "adaptability" of consumption scenarios, and these changes can become new growth opportunities.

With the further matching of cycling and living scenes, unique bicycle categories such as pet bicycles and freight bicycles have also begun to enter the public's vision.

In the depths of the Pan Thai Building Creative Park, there is an independent bicycle brand Brook&Breeze, and a Cargo bicycle is parked at the entrance of the store.

The interior of the store is a double layered structure, including bicycle workshops, retail, maintenance, etc.

On the walls of the store, there are many group photos of riders riding with their pets, and this pet bike is the latest hit.

"The front wheel of this bicycle is slightly smaller, and the capacity of the front frame is increased, which is moved downwards to ensure stability when placing pets. In addition, the braking part has also been modified to enhance stability during parking through bilateral support." Brand members found that traveling with pets is a major pain point for young urban people, so they developed a bicycle that can accommodate "furry kids".

Brook&Breeze founder David is an American who, after graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been engaged in long-term research on travel plans in China. His deep concern for urban travel has led him to pursue a career in cycling.

"Bicycles provide another dimension of interaction with cities, and people's destinations are no longer limited to large shopping malls or well-known attractions. Creative and vibrant neighborhoods need to be seen more." David said.

In fact, cycling used to be a daily routine for the vast majority of Chinese people, almost ubiquitous in commuting, buying groceries to pick up children, dating and leisure. And this legacy continues to this day. China's urban road system has relatively complete non motorized lanes, and almost all Chinese people have the skills to ride bicycles... In David's view, once bicycles are combined with daily activities such as parent-child, transportation, and pets, these accumulations will be transformed into the momentum for industrial progress.

Inspiration from Bicycle Town

If opening "post stations" and expanding the usage scenarios of bicycles can take bicycle consumption to the next level. So, Park Cycling Bicycle Town reminds us that the cycling space may also need to pay attention to the inclusiveness and flexibility of the scene. The Bicycle Town is located in the Jiabei Country Park in Shanghai. After entering the park from the main entrance and turning right, you can see a large lawn and a row of white double-layer buildings. At present, this place is equipped with a relatively complete commercial format and outdoor industry chain. The large lawn at the entrance is usually used as the starting point for cycling activities. Outdoor markets are held on specific dates, inviting relevant brands to join and allowing cyclists and other companions gathered here to find more fun.

Resident merchants appreciate the sustained appeal of cycling and the purchasing power of the cycling population. "Here, you can have coffee during the day and craft beer at night," Liu Hui, who is in charge of the market operation of Bicycle Town, told reporters. Currently, the rent for these merchants is not low, but there are still many brands and merchants discussing settling in. Continuing inward is Park Cycling's rental service point and camping site. If you want to ride, you can rent mountain bikes and helmets here. If you want to relax, you can have a drink at the camping site. Next to the rental point is Ximano's repair shop, which can provide related maintenance services. There is also a mall on the right, leading to Decathlon's mountain bike exhibition and R&D center. Liu Hui said that Decathlon's R&D personnel will work here every week, and use professional mountain lanes to test the performance of bicycle related products. Further inside is the field of the mountain bike track. Park Cycling is based on the original environment of the ecological forest, with high, medium, and low difficulty levels set, suitable for different types of cycling enthusiasts such as adults, teenagers, and children.

In addition to regular cycling, the free night riding activity every Wednesday night is also widely popular, and the utilization rate of cycling space has been further improved. Relying on abundant natural forests, river waterways, and ecological pastoral resources, the bicycle town has also comprehensively constructed other supporting services, such as camping, archery, paddling, and other sports that can be experienced in one go, and even opened up a pet friendly space separately.

"In addition to cyclists, we also need to take care of those who are not good at cycling," Liu Hui said. Cycling is not an either or thing thing, it has too many combinations and combinations. We regularly organize camping festivals, music festivals, and other activities, which provide a huge growth space for cycling with such flexible scales. Currently, the third phase of the town is being prepared. In the future, the commercial formats in the bicycle town will become more diverse, including bicycle accessories, accessories, and related peripherals. In addition, amusement facilities related to bicycles will also be increased, including bicycle seesaws, zigzags, and springboards. At the end of the day, cycling is not only a mode of transportation, but also a leisure activity that requires building more facilities