In a couple episodes of Star Trek: Voyager a crew member recreates an “ancient” Irish town on the ship’s holodeck.
One scene shows the ship’s doctor (dressed as a priest) comfortably riding his bicycle.
In another, a crew members terrorizes the town by careening through on an automobile, nearly running over people and animals, before he crashes into some barrels and breaks the axle of the car.
Even in this 20th-century recreation of a 24th-century recreation of a 19th-century town it’s pretty clear that riding a bicycle is a prudent decision.
Livable streets on the holodeck. That’s great.
There’s also a bicycle in the Next Generation episode where Data loses his memory.
I almost forgot about that one! If I remember correctly it’s technically it’s a balance bike because it doesn’t have pedals.
(I think we’re sparking one of the nerdier conversations ever, dipping into both Star Trek and bike trivia, but I’m all for it!)
The episode is called “Thine own Self” and the bicycle appears the morning after a momentous event.
So, which Star Trek character would most likely use a folding bicycle? I think it might be Dr Phlox because he’s into alternative medicine and appears open to unconventional solutions. It might also suit Neelix’ thrift.
Kira Nerys must have used a bicycle when she was in the resistance movement, but it would have been a mountain bike. A Montague perhaps? Oh and Kirk got around on two wheels in the last movie (Chris Pine).
I think Phlox would have a Brompton and Nelix would have a Bike Friday, possibly their Tikit. Kira could have had a mountain bike but those can be hard to maintain without a shop to buy parts at. I’m almost thinking she would have ridden a 3-speed or a practical city bike with larger tires, sort of like the Dutch resistance used.