The Internet is a strange and wonderful place. This was additionally confirmed today when I was checking my stats and discovered that someone in China had visited my blog. This is not so uncommon. The unusual thing was the search-term used. The visitor had searched google with the phrase
what is a flakmoppe
This is the internet being used at its best for cross-cultural experiences. It is a brilliant question which touches the strange heartland of Swedish mystique and culture. The flakmoppe is a moped with a difference.
Most commonly used on small islands (but also in the countryside), this moped has been adapted to be able to transport material. The moped has three wheels (two in the front) and a small platform upon which the rider can transport small amounts of goods (or other people). The advantage of this is that on many small Swedish islands no cars could be transported there and no larger roads where built. So the islanders had to rely on something smaller for their daily lighter transport needs.
The flakmoppe used to be reasonably widespread but now remains an important mode of transportation on the islands of Sweden and in the hearts of the nostalgic and flakmoppe enthusiasts.