This post looks at Bekka Wright’s speech given at an independently organised community TEDx Event in Somerville 2015. She is the artist behind Bikeyface. In this talk, Bekka Wright recounts how her personal journey on two wheels was the literal vehicle for her changing her goals, her career and her overall life outcomes for the better.
Moving People – Bekka Wright
Bekka’s talk gives a human element and background to the immensely popular comic series she created called Bikeyface which perpetually showcases Bekka’s poetic drawings, keen observations and eternal love of life on a bicycle. I like how her talk is peppered with her comics, which add warmth and hour and always adding a little something extra to her narrative.
I find myself returning to Bikeyface, just to explore what musings are on offer. I find myself often smiling with the comic’s characters and thinking to myself, “Wow, how many time has that happened to me too”!
I appreciate Bekka’s eternal wrestle with her city, the street, the cars, the personalities and the weird and wonderful things that happen to us all when riding a bike in the city.
I find Bikeyface funny, affirming and altogether lovely – and it is delightful to see Bekka telling her story of how it all originated. Enjoy!
Well, even though I have a mountain of uni marking, (perhaps despite it!), I thought it was important to get out and about on the bike – and I ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable and an EVENTful weekend – two events in fact!
Style Over Speed Ride (Fri night)
The first event was Friday night’s Style Over Speed Ride for Bike Week. It was the first time I have participated in this event and I had a wonderful time! I meet some cool kats, some funky chickens and some down-right lovely souls. There were all types of stylish and customs bikes, the variety and array was beautiful to behold and certainly VERY stylish!! After meeting and mingling, we had leisurely and fun roll around town – cruising, chatting, being a little cheeky, dinging bells – oh it did make me miss Melbourne! It was great to be hitting the streets en mass riding after dark – it is something I have sorely missed since moving to Brisbane, but tonight, I made some new friends and my art bike Leki (below) had a great time too!
My bike LEKI in all her her glory! Source: Style Over Speed Facebook page
It was lovely cruising around Brisbane in a bike pack. I don’t usually go into the city on Friday night, but it was a spectacular eventing, clear and beautiful – everyone was in a good mood and I had a great time. there were some very special bikes there that I would like to see again and speak to the owners, some bespoke bikes that were truly beautiful. I made a few new contacts, got some names and feel more relaxed about being in Brisbane. I got a few hot invitations to some upcoming bike events that I will post about later. At the end of our ride, we went to a pub on Innerly St to have beer and a chat – which was a great ending to a lovely evening. I didn’t want to hang around too long as I still had to get home and up early in the morning for my next event.
Source: Style Over Speed Facebook page
Defcon Cycles Ride Day (Sat)
Definitive Cycles had a ride day at Gap Creek which was a great chance to try some of their new stock, ride with some MTB mates and get a slap-up breakfast on top! The Defcon boys did a great job on the day, there was a good turn out of familiar faces and some new people, the weather was amazing, fun trails and other family and friends came out. It was great to see so many women out this time, last time I was the only one, but today there were some rock steady chicks! I had a brilliant longer ride up Rocket Frog, then up and back down Dingo and around the MTB loop with a few boys that I usually ride with – which was super fun (tiring, but very rewarding). It was also good to check out the new range of Intense, Evil and Banshee test bikes and see what everyone else was riding and catch up on some gossip and news. Now home to continue that end of semester marking…grrrr.
– A community-driven, low emission distributed urban farming model
– Build home gardens less than .25 acres throughout the community
– Use bike-powered transportation for maintenance and harvest of produce
– Sell produce at local farmers markets, food trucks, and local restaurants
Fleet Farming
The ‘Fleet Farmer’ name refers to ‘Farmers’ on a ‘Fleet’ of bicycles, helping to manage the grow-to-harvest process of urban farming. These Farmers will be made up of members of the surrounding community and members from partnering organizations. Each Farmer will sign-up for a scheduled bike ride once per week, traveling an average of 8-10 miles from the Winter Park Urban Farm to East End Market, and back.
Throughout the ride, the Fleet Farmers will stop at various home gardens participating in the program. Each garden will be regularly maintained, including tilling, watering, removal of weeds and pests, application of organic fertilizer, harvesting of the fruits and vegetables throughout the year, and distribution of the local produce to local venues using pedal power.
In Phase 2, the Fleet Farmers will also help in collecting compost from the restaurants in route that are interested in providing pre and post-consumer food waste to develop the final piece of the closed-loop system.
There have been many culture shocks for me moving from Melbourne to Brisbane, but none more so than daily being confronted by the restrictive, narrow-minded, risk-adverse and controlling authority that Queensland has over its residents. In every other major city around the world, today is the World Naked Bike Ride Day 2016. This is a peaceful political demonstration to protest against the burning of fossil fuels and climate change, as well as promoting naturism, biketivism and environmentalism (all the best -isms!).
Only In Brisbane
I laughed myself into a stitch, when I inquired about the event last week about the WNBR Brisbane chapter. I read that in Queensland, ONLY women can ride completely nude. For reasons of ‘indecency’, men had to wear a G-string – WTF!!!
No other city I know of has this rule – and I mean nowhere around the WORLD that I can find!
(Having said that, if I was a man who wanted to participate in the Brisbane ride – personally, I would wear the G-string on my head, around my wrist or my ankle).
Talk about ridiculous laws!!
World Naked Bike Ride Day 2016
Authority control = no Brisbane WNBR
Not only that, but the route that the WNBR Brisbane was to take, was deemed to have too much ‘exposure’ (teehee) to the general public as it tool in taking in parts of the M1. So the police knocked back the proposal. This sparked a series of run arounds for the organisers by police, local officials and council – so much so, that the process and permit got bound up so tightly (and effectively) that the event in Brisbane had to be cancelled.
What a crock!
That meant that the closest WNBR event for Brisbanites was in Byron Bay – 2 hours away!
Brisbane is notorious for previously having a pitiful turnout for this event because the participants get such a hard time when it does go ahead.
This year it was a definitive and flat out red-ribbon stitch-up for good. Problem sorted.
Queensland is old-fashioned, risk-adverse and draconian – and quietly but effectively, authorities are pairing back on civil liberties one small step at a time. Not enough that people get concerned, but just enough to ever so convincingly restrict locals’ choices in lifestyle, activities and access.
Whether you agree or not with the World Naked Bike Ride, in Australia we supposedly have ‘the right’ to hold and/or participate in this event.
I think if people want to cycle nude to highlight what they feel is an important social issue, all the more power to them!
But the way Queensland authorities handled this event – flat out sucks!
What a good job of cutting Brisbane out of one of the most fun, colourful and popular international peaceful bike protests.
Well, kudos to every other cosmopolitan, contemporary, inclusive, progressive and intelligent city in the worldwho enjoyed a gorgeous day of free speech, community participation and environmental awareness. I hope you had a massive blast, got your message out there and bless you brave souls and awesome supporters who attended!!
I hope all those beautiful riders had a massive blast, got thier message out there.less you brave souls and awesome supporters who attended!!
Bless those brave souls and awesome supporters who attended!!
I was genuinely sorry to have missed out on supporting one of my favourite lively, refreshing and community-driven annual biking events.
If Cape Town in South Africa (see video below) can still manage do it in the midst of all their economic, political and social issues – then shame on you Brisbane. You are miles behind the times!!!
It is the annual Portland Worst Day of the Year Ride.
This is the 15th year that the Worst Day of the Year Ride has been running. It is touted as Oregon’s only costumed ride and attracts around 2,500 people on the day, all of whom are out to have fun, get dressed-up and ride their bikes. It is called the Worst Day of the Year Ride because it is held on the ‘worst weather of the year day’ as a show that the local cyclists will not be deterred from enjoying their cycling, no matter what the challenges – including severe inclement weather! I also find this intriguing as it is the peak of Summer in Australia – and in Brisbane today, it was a draining 32C (89.6F) with 88% humidity and bugger all wind – so the idea that our US cycling brothers and sisters are braving Winter’s worst weather is amusing to us Aussies – especially today.
The primary reason I wanted to post this event is that not only is it a super fun cycling event, it brings the community together for a great cause. I particularly love the fact that the title of this event coincides this year with the event being held on Valentine’s Day. I have always found it difficult to stomach that the day for/of supposed ‘lovers’ is now overrun by advertising and consumerism. I for one will be bugged if anyone else tells me on what day I should tell those precious to me that I love them. I love them equally everyday regardless….and I tell them so everyday!! So the cold chill the Oregon riders will have to contend with matches the same feeling I get when looking at florists and newsagents shops on the 14th Feb. I was ticked pink by title and the sentiment!
I also like the idea that if we were in Portland, my Beloved and I would show the depth of our love by getting on our bikes and taking to the (frigid *teehee*) street with a couple of thousand other strangers, most in fancy dress, to go for a spin around town. Now that’s what I call a ‘lovely’ day!!
The 1 minute video below gives a general snapshot of the event from 2015:
Events like this one and the Australian Ride the Night (which was last week) are such a great way to bring a large group of cyclists together to do something unique, meaningful and memorable. There should be more fun, inventive and adventurous cycling events like these.
On the weekend, I went out into the community to get more personal stories about ‘a Bike in my Life’ to add to the Re-cycle Dreams Community Storybook project I have been undertaking for a while.
The idea is simple – to invite community members to contribute a story about a bike in their life. It could be an experience, a dream, a wish or a memory: whatever they want. It has been a great pleasure meeting people at different locations and times, chatting about bikes and life and all their associated spills, skills and thrills.
Some people write poems, others draw, most people write a story about a memorable time on a bike. The narratives are all highly personal, perspicacious and heartfelt and they always make me smile. Some retell crashes, awesome rides, theft, new starts, misadventures, romance, youthful happy times and everything in between.
All reflect the impact that riding has had in the heart of the contributor.
All are handed to me with a smile and a wistful look in the eye.
New location – Wynnym Foreshore (Brisbane, QLD).
On the weekend, I went out for my first time in Queensland to collect some stories. Sachie from the Summer Program joined me and we had a lovely couple of hours down on the Wynnum foreshore chatting to local families, collecting people’s short stories. We watched the afternoon change from bright sunny family picnics and games to a blowy, overcast afternoon where dog walkers and fitclub participants were weaving in and out of each other, vying for path access and stability against the increasing offshore winds.
I have been collecting these stories for a number of ‘Community Engagement’ days and will be using them to produce an ebook, which I would like to offer on for free on this blog (will keep you posted). It is a very rewarding activity to undertake and I thoroughly enjoy interacting with people and enlisting their contributions. For me it a highly enjoyable way to take action and bring bicycle riding to the forefront of people’s discussions while promoting more random acts of bike stories exchange and extending the love of cycling!
Here is a quick sample selection – click on the first story and click the X to enlarge – you can then scroll through each one to read. Enjoy!!
Everyone has a right to ride a bike and feel the wind in their hair – so here is a community cycling initiative that is right up my alley!!
“Cycling Without Age” is a movement started in 2012 by Ole Kassow. Ole wanted to help the elderly get back on their bicycles, but he had to find a solution to their limited mobility. The answer was a rickshaw. He started offering free bike rides to the local nursing home residents. Cycling Without Age website. Now four years into operation, this project has made thousands of elderly people incredibly happy; has over 400 purpose built rickshaws, ridden by 3,000 volunteer ‘pilots’ and can be found all over Denmark, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Singapore, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Slovakia, Netherlands, France and Chile. I can’t wait for it to come to Australian cities.
I think this project is highly progressive for a number of reasons:
It’s an amazing way for the elderly (or others?) to be reintegrated into everyday life, despite various mobility or health issues.
It provides an amazing opportunity for those who would not necessarily get outside often (if at all), including the invigorating and curative physiological and psychological effects that fresh air, excitement and social contact have on degenerative conditions.
To remind an ever busy, self-centred and technological world of the finer things in life, like taking the time to ride in a park with friends – and for it to be so meaningful.
The organisation has even taken ‘international’ cycling trips – from Denmark over the sea to Norway, for one – what an amazing trip of a lifetime at any age.
It serves as a reminder that our Elders still have dreams, hopes and life to live – just as we all do.
Basically, this is a community service. Not only does it genuinely promote cycling for all ages, it also actively integrates elders into society. As well it creates opportunities for unusual and significant social networks and relationships to form between disparate community members – like the riders and the passengers, who otherwise would probably not have ever met.
In many eyes, this is a fantastic example of how bicycles can have a truly positive effect on people and communities. What an inspiration!
For more background and details, see Ole presenting his project at a TED Copenhagen in the video below.
I’ve been away for four days in Regional Victoria visiting family who live just outside of Castlemaine. On Saturday, we went to the Wesley Hill markets to get some supplies. It was a lovely market – very inviting and really showcasing local products. You know you are onto a good thing when you see this out the front of a local market….
Image: Firebean Organic Coffee
We thoroughly enjoyed the local community market stalls and produce, stocking up on mangos, amazing mini loaves of semi-pumpernickel, rye and soaked seeds (I got 4!) and local Yandoit farmer John who was selling the latest fantastic cherries he harvested from his property. As we were wandering around, I was delighted to see these two young entrepreneurs (picture below) who were running “The Bike Bar” making cold-to-order drinks. As well as this, the right-hand sign on the table also advertises their other add-on service which is bike building. We stopped to have a lovely chat with these industrious young lads and overall I was very impressed by how bike friendly this market was – it was great to see bikes being integral to the fabric of this market.
Wesley Hill Markets, Regional Victoria
We also stopped for a coffee at the Firebean Organic Coffee Stall – which, if you order an iced coffee the ingredients are prepared and then ….
Image: Firebean Organic Coffee
…. the customer who made the order gets on the bicycle to blend their own iced-coffee. Not that this a necessarily new invention, but again, just great to be in an environment where bicycles are so productive, valued and indispensable. It was a delight to visit this market and be part of this progressive and bicycle-loving community!
Today I joined the Brisbane Climate Change Rally 2015. It was a fun, colourful, purposeful, but hot day. I went with two friends and took Leki with me (who was a smash hit with the crowd because of her colourful flowers). We had a great time chatting to people around us before we took to the streets – I had a conversation with the bicycle cops about their work on two wheels, had a chance to tell ‘Tony Abbott’ what I really thought and got interviewed by Channel 9 News – all in a day’s work when promoting bicycles!!
Who was there?
There were a lot of political groups, vegan promoters, animal rights groups, cultural and social action organisations, wildlife conservationists and speciality interest and focus groups. I couldn’t see a bicycle specific cohort, although lots of people there said it was cool I brought my bike and was promoting cycling at a climate change rally. There were lots of positive comments about reducing fossil fuel emissions and keeping society fit and healthy.
We heard speeches and saw performances on the main stage, which was interesting and necessary, but as minutes ticked on it got hotter and hotter. I could see the poor older people struggling to stand in the heat for so long – we were still yet to march. All benches and shade were taken, and I thought the crowd did well to hear out the speeches before finally getting the go-ahead to hit the street and march.
Let’s hit the streets!
This is always my favorite part of a Rally – the actual march through the city. I positioned our group close to the drumming band and we shadowed them the whole way. It is always easier to march when you have funky music to move to. I left fly with Leki’s bells so I was jamming with the percussionists. We were shaking a leg alongside, adding to the happy noise. The people surrounding us were grinning from amusement given the raucous entertainment we were providing – good olde harmless fun. So, we slowly peeled away from Martin Place to head off through the city.
We had a great time: we danced, joked, made up chants, found new friends, kept ourselves hydrated and entertained. It was a long march and totally worth it to exercise our civic rights, to voice our concerns about politics, to get amongst other like-minded community members and to have some damn good fun. We ended up back at the rendezvous point, happy, hoarse and satiated. Just as before we headed off for some well deserved cool drinks in the shade to wind-down, take a load off our feet and reflect on the day.
