I have a growing appreciation for this man. It wasn't long ago that I found his online journal and discovered he has a likewise fondness for folding bicycles, though his developed sometime in the 1980s. He's been packing them for travel over the past few decades. He recently published a book full of journals entries that he's been writing over his travels, all from the perspective of the cyclist in the city, and how the urban landscape has (or hasn't) adapted to the bicycle. His opinions on urban development remind me a lot of Dom Nozzi's (Walkable Streets) who I recommend to anyone interested in urban development and how it relates to sustainability and quality of life. Though, I'm not as hardcore of a biker as these advocates (living in Spring Hill doesn't help), they both serve as inspiration.
It's worth noting, however, Byrne isn't fond of the smaller folding bikes with 20" wheels or smaller, such as the ones I tend to write about. From his point of view, they don't have much to offer in shock absorption, and with all the cobblestone streets in New York, it's not so great for anyone who uses their hands to make music. I don't blame him.
I've also picked up these two films of his.
davidbyrne.com
Bicycle Diaries
