Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change

Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change. Bicycles Create Change.com 28th June, 2019.

Nâm Arya is a first generation Tibetan-America. In 2016, she spent a year undertaking an epic bike-packing and speaking tour of the U.S called Bike for Tibet. 

Her goal was to spread the word about the impacts of climate change in Tibet and to seek climate justice for Tibetans.

I got excited to find out more about the trip online. I went to Nâm’s online journal, but there was not much content there. Bummer because the trip itself sounds awesome! Even so, this initiative is so worthwhile. I suppose you have to go to one of the talks in order to get all the details! Fair play!

Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change. Bicycles Create Change.com 28th June, 2019.

What is Bike for Tibet?

It was a year-long bicycle tour of the U.S. for the purpose of bringing Tibet and Tibetans into the global conversation on climate justice.

Along the way Nâm offered 60+ min presentations to discuss and dissect climate change issues in Tibet.

During these discussions, she highlighted key concerns including the displacement of nomads, the effects of dams along Tibetan rivers, and mining.  

Nâm also outlined root causes, false solutions, issues of colonization, and how democracy features within the context of exploited communities.

A central theme in all the presentations is inter-dependence. She also linked wider issues from other communities seeking environmental justice in the US and abroad.

Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change. Bicycles Create Change.com 28th June, 2019.

Who is Bike for Tibet?

Nâm is an exiled Tibetan woman who was born in Mungod Resettlement Camp in southern India. As a youth, she  attended Tibetan boarding school in the northern India until she immigrated to the US in 1996 where she now lives.

 She and her bike-riding-mad partner Jonni undertook the 12-month Bike for Tibet journey together.

Jonni is adventure bicyclist and Instagram celebrity under the moniker UltraRomance. If you have not seen Jonni’s IG before, check it out – he is hilarious!

What a brilliant idea for a bike project! Get out on the road with your favourite person, ride around living a simple life and promote a very important environmental and social issue at the same time– wicked!

Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change. Bicycles Create Change.com 28th June, 2019.

How did Bike for Tibet get started?

Nâm says she was inspired by Drukpa Rinpoche’s Eco Pad Yatra and the enduring work of Tibet climate change organizations working to  vision to bring stabilise the Himalaya Plateau.

She created Bike For Tibet to be a nexus for these projects, influences and practices – as well as something she loves best to do – biking!

The Bike for Tibet project builds on Nâm’s decade-long leadership and work within the environmental movement.

Nâm used crowd funding to get Bike for Tibet up and running. Although she is advocating for climate action, Bike for Tibet is independent and not affiliated with any one particular group.

Tibetan Bike Rider Combating Climate Change. Bicycles Create Change.com 28th June, 2019.

Some parts of this post were taken from the Bike for Tibet website to ensure accuracy of facts. All images by Bike for Tibet or IG UltraRomance unless otherwise indicated.

South African Bicycle Portraits: Stephanie Baker

Bicycle Portraits - Stephanie Baker (South Africa). Bicycles Create Change.com 24th June, 2019.
Image: Nic Groble Bicycle Portraits

Bike riders are a wonderful reflection of the society in which they live. Globally, there are myriad cultures, styles, approaches and lifestyles, just as there are bike riders and bikes.

It is rare gain access to the lifeworlds of bike riders elsewhere. But this is what Stan Engelbrecht and Nic Groble’s South African Bicycle Portraits project provides.

Bicycle Portraits is a creative 2-year project that showcases everyday South African locals and their bicycles. Through photos Stan and Nic took while riding around South Africa and meeting local bike riders, it reveals who rides, why they ride, and why so few South Africans choose the bicycle as a primary mode of transport.

It was ambitious and simple in its conception, yet community-minded in execution.

For many South Africans, bicycles are the only transport option.

Today, Bicycle Portraits has more than 500 portraits compiled over three years. Stan and Nic have cycled over 10,000 kilometers in order to complete their collection.

It is a wonderful expose and homage to South African bicycle subculture.

It is a fascinating insight into the diverse societal, historical and cultural characteristics that make up the eclectic RSA community.

Bicycle Portrait – Stephanie Baker

Vimeo: Bicycle Portraits – Stephanie Baker

Stephanie is an 82 and ¾ year old Pretorian local, who rides her bike a kilometre uphill every other day.

In addition to being a portrait participant, Stephanie was the only personality that Stan and Nic also made a short video about (see below).

And you can see why.

Most touching is that bike riding has given Stephanie a very particular view of how cycling improves ‘public relations’ and how it helps her connect with the locals.

Unsurprisingly, Stephanie’s wholesome outlook which she aptly describes, has been viewed over 14.7 thousand times.

Stephanie is a wonderful reminder that you are never too old to enjoy riding a bike.

Bicycle Portraits - Stephanie Baker (South Africa). Bicycles Create Change.com 24th June, 2019.
Vimeo: Bicycle Portraits – Stephanie Baker

Bicycle Portraits – Final Result

Stan Engelbrecht and Nic Grobler are publishing their best 165 portraits and stories selected from over 500 images they’ve collected during their 2-year journey.

The selected final portraits are included in 3 volumes. Each book also has includes different 55 stories and two essays – one essay by a local South African and the other by major international cycling figure.

The three books have been produced in collaboration with other local artists. The books are designed by Gabrielle Guy. Also, celebrated South African artist Gabrielle Raaff had created an individual hand-painted watercolor map (based on Google Maps) to indicate where portraits was taken. The final product is impressive (see below).

What a wonderful project to showcase the diversity and characters that make up the unique South African bicycle culture. I would love to see more project from around the world like this!

Bicycle Portraits - Stephanie Baker (South Africa). Bicycles Create Change.com 24th June, 2019.
Image: Nic Groble Bicycle Portraits

What happened at BikeHack19?

I’m still recovering from BikeHack19! It was intensive, fun and interesting for many reasons. I’m constantly being asked ..What happened?! So, here’s a summary snapshot of each day at BikeHack19. Congrats to all involved. Well done all! NG.

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
BikeHack19. Image: Twitter @TMRQld

What happened at BikeHack19?

Previously, I posted details about the upcoming BikeHack19 event in Brisbane. BikeHack19 is Australia’s first hackathon-style event where teams work to address the challenge of getting more people on bikes more often in Queensland.

It was a 45-hour intense event.

There were 90+ people, 79 hackers, 26 pitches, 13 final teams, 3 business development masterclasses, 3 mentor round-robin sessions and 1 customer focus group (30 pax) and a final pitch to an expert panel of 4 judges who decided on the prize winners. PHEW!

There was $25,000 in prize money for the 4 main categories as well as other additional prizes.

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: Channel 7 Facebook

Friday Day 1: Initiation

The event started 5 pm Friday night.

On arrival, there was time for hackers and organisers to meet-and-greet and network before the official opening.

The opening address had guest speeches by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads The Honourable Mark Bailey, Matthew Longland (Deputy Direct Generals Translink TMR), Adam Rogers (Director, Cycling & Walking TMR) and Matt McQuaid (Client Director Aurecon).

The event was facilitated by Aaron Kirby who did a great job of keeping all the teams motivated and on task all weekend. At this stage, Aaron ran participants through a warm-up game Is that your personality in your pocket? – a fun activity to get the hackers interacting and set the scene well for the ideas pitch and team formation yet to come.

A quick aside note..during the weekend, Aaron also set an additional challenge for hackers to: connect with 10 people, teach someone a skill, stay involved and build something awesome – another great way to mingle and share skills with other teams.

After the warm-up game, was the initial ideas pitch.

This is an important element of hackathons because its where hackers get to share their ideas – and its the first time other participants hear and chose what projects they might want to work on for the rest of the weekend.

Overall, there were 28 1-minute ideas pitched to the audience. Below are my quick notes on each idea and the pitches with a star next to them ended up forming teams that night (with others teams being added on Saturday).

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: TMR Qld
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.

If you’ve not been to hackathon, the 1-min pitches briefly detail who you are, what your idea is, the name of the project (if you have one) and who is needed for the team to make it happen.

We then got to vote for our favourite 3 ideas and started forming teams.

Some of the teams and people changed, joined, splintered and morphed over the next 12 hours until the teams were fully set by 10 am Saturday.

Then it was game on.

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: @TMRQld

Saturday – Day 2: Development

After an 8 am breakfast, teams got started working on their projects.

It was an intense day.

Many teams were still getting to know each other, as well as running around the city (and online), doing customer validations, continuing research, and developing and consolidating what their actual project/idea was.

From 8.30am until 6 pm, teams had a series of startup workshops (like how to use a Lean Startup model, Facebook Ads, and the event Slack platform) and a constant round-robin of consultation with mentors, industry experts, sponsors and subject matter experts.

Each mentor session added an extra layer of complexity, understanding and reality to the projects. Mentor whiplash!

At different stage throughout the day, people were running in and out of the building – hackers were busy interviewing would-be customers, making phone calls, pivoting on their ideas, tweaking concepts, mocking up product trials, sending out online surveys, designing pilots, making AV documentation, calling in favours – oh yeah…and voting in the election!

At 6 pm, all the teams had 10 mins each to explain their ideas to a focus group of 30 people who gave immediate feedback and asked questions – everyone was exhausted by this stage.

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
BikeBuddy Sunday morning ride into BikeHack19. Nina, Eric and Victor.

Sunday – Day 3: Final Day

After another early start, the morning sessions included a workshop on the final pitch and another series of last-minute mentor meetings to finalise ideas.

By lunch, all teams were working on final pitch rehearsal and preparation.

At 3 pm, all worked stopped. All team PPTs were submitted.

Guests started arriving for the final 4pm panel presentation.

For final pitches, each team had a 5-min to present with a PPT (and other realia or prototypes) to a panel of 4 judges.

The four judges, Neil Scales OBE, Evelyn Storey, Peter Bourke and Majella Edwards.

The judging criteria: Validation, Business Model and Execution.

Here’s the final team panel pitch order:

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
The awesome Brisbane River Cycle Team. Image: TMR Qld

Individual BikeHack19 Awards

A big thank you also to Prof. Rowena Barrett and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Business School, (QUT Fondary and QUT Real World) who offered 5 additional cash and recognition prizes to individual hackers.

  1. Spirit of the Hack 
  2. Best social media engagement 
  3. Hustler Award
  4. People’s Choice 
  5. Pivot Award

It was a real honour to receive the Spirit of the Hack Award. It was a little embarrassing when the Aaron asked the whole room to stand up and point to the person they think embodied the spirit of the event – and everyone pointed to me! I was awarded it for helping other teams, being enthusiastic and having a passion for getting more people on bikes – of course!

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.

Beyond BikeHack19

This BikeHack event must have been a massive effort to get organised.

As a participant, I was impressed by how available and supportive the organisers and sponsors were over the whole weekend.

Congrats and thanks to all!

A massive big thank you to the amazing sponsors, organisers, mentors and volunteers who made this weekend possible.

This includes event organisers Fishburners Sarah and Issac who were particularly outstanding. Sarah I will not forget your stairwell help! Fishburners supplies a brilliant range of inspiration, collection and connection to support tech startups including a collaborative office space in Brisbane.

Aurecon supplied their amazing office for the event. It was an absolute delight being able to work in their office space – thank you!

The TMR Queensland staff were always on hand to answer questions and help out where and whenever they were needed.

And kudos to the supporting sponsors Deloitte, 99 Bikes, Pedal, Merida and event facilitator Aaron Birkby.

I think all the teams did really well and as a participant I can appreciate all the extra hard work behind the scenes that no-one else sees. I also commend all the teams on their final pitches – it is such a difficult thing to do.

Below are the 4 category winners and the DG’s special prize.

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Images: BikeHack19

Overall it was an epic event. The weekend was full of the necessary ups and downs that come with hackathons, startups and working with new people.

A big congrats to all the hackers who participated and gave their time, skills, ideas and energy to help explore ideas get more people on bikes more often in Queensland.

Great job everyone!

See you for the next BikeHack!

What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
The Cylight Team
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: Twitter @ItawTf
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: Twitter @IHolmyrd
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: Channel 7 Faceboo
What happened at BikeHack19? Bicycles Create Change.com. 21st May, 2019.
Image: TMR Qld

Happy Fearful Mother’s Day Cycling Mums!

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create
The joy of being a cycling mum. Image: Trek Cycles

Today is Mother’s Day.

The idea of Mother’s Day is to honour mothers for all they have done.

Traditionally, family members give flowers, cards and gifts, or make mums breakfast in bed or take them out for lunch. Or something that is similarly supportive and nice.

I went online to see what was being peddled specifically for ‘cycling mums’.

I expected to see the normal product-pushing commercial crap (which was all there of course), but then I saw an article I found very disturbing.

It was on BikeRoar, a website touted as being an independent product resource website devoted to helping cyclists #BuyLocal – fair enough.

Published last year under the section heading TECH TIPS, it was written by Australian cyclist Jayne Rutter and titled 11 Mother’s Day gifts for cycling mums.

The list of 11 gift ideas looked innocent enough.

  • The first item was a water bottle.
  • The second was a free massage.
  • The third was a book.
  • The fourth ‘a 2-hour leave pass from the kids’ to ride to a local café
  • The fifth was a Run Angel Personal Safety Device

…………..and it was the last one that stopped me.

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.
Image: BikeRoar’s #5 top gift for Mothers Day

I didn’t read on.

There is so much wrong with this list.

First, the article is listed under ‘Tech Tips’. It has 11 items, but only one (#5 above) is actually a tech product. There is a Garmin mount (#6), but not the actual Garmin. Odd. I sincerely hope this is not because of some preconditioned, subtle, habitual, gender stereotype like women aren’t good at tech…. 1 out of 11?

But more than that, it was the actual product #5 itself I found unsettling.

I appreciate that this product comes from a place of concern.

But its very existence is a recognition that abuse of women is so widespread that no woman is safe – at any time.

Violence against women has become so commonplace that giving a personal safety alarm to our mothers is one of the top five gifts we can get her. Really? Top five. I find that so disturbing.

Have we become so accepting and desensitised that violence against women occurs so regularly that we are equipping our mothers with panic alarms – for when they ride their bikes in broad day light!

What the hell!!

Do you know any male cyclists who wear panic alarms?

I find it disconcerting that most people would not see, or question how disempowering for women this seemingly harmless Mother’s Day list and the giving of a personal alarm is. And therein lies the issue.

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.

Female bike riders are at risk

It can be hard to recognise and understand the scale of abuse women experience.

Women face physical and sexual abuse all the time.

Women constantly get unwanted comments, looks, sniggers, honks and disparaging, offensive, sexualised remarks like ‘I’d hold a knife to that’ (said by two men walking past Laura Bates*). We live in a society where ‘I feel rapey’ t-shirts are now sold on Ebay.*

If you think I’m over-exaggerating, have a look at the Everyday Sexism Project*.

As a woman, riding a bike makes you a target.

Or running.

Or walking a dog.

Or going to school.

Or going to the shops.

Or………………. well, you get the picture.

It can be challenging for the amazing men in our lives to understand the extent and danger to physical safety that just being a female is.

Just because you might not see it or experience it yourself, does not mean it is not happening.

Women routinely feel unsafe. We live in a culture where women are culturally trained to fear men, being outside, being mobile, being in public and being alone.

Verbal attacks, sexual assault, rape and street harassment are commonplace. Just ask a female friend or family member about getting public transport after dark.

Aside from all these issues, the personal alarm is also problematic because it puts the responsibility of criminal behaviour on the (would-be) victims. Women. As Laura Kipnis points out “I can think of no better way to subjugate women than to convince us that assault is around every corner”.

We place the responsibility of persistent and immediate danger on women, who then restrict their movements, reduce activities and live in a perpetual state of anxiety. That’s control.

Yup, the epitome of a modern, free, independent woman.

Another issue is that the personal alarm suggests that women are unsafe only when out of the house – like when riding a bike – and that attacks are only perpetrated on the street by strangers. Yes, this happens a lot, but it is not the full picture.

The idea that women are only unsafe in public is a fallacy.

A Personal Safety Survey conducted in 2012 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated that most instances of violence against women were perpetrated by someone known to them: around 74% of women who had experienced violence in the last 12 months, and 87% of women who had experienced violence since the age of 15, reported that the perpetrator was someone they know.[8]

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create
Image: Lyndsay Williams. The Toronto Star.

Abuse of female cyclists occurs every day

Women know this abuse happens, but sadly, most men are unaware of the extent and impact gender and sexual harassment have on females and female cyclists.

A few recent news pieces have tried to highlight the issue:

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.

So, this Mother’s Day was frustrating.

I am angry that the happiness and warmth that should be the focus for Mother’s Day is undermined by seemingly ‘nice and thoughtful’ gifts which are actually unchecked, unspoken and unseen consequences of the misogynistic control and abuse of women.

Perhaps a more apt sentiment for today is Happy Fearful Mother’s Day Cycling Mums!

I have hope though.

There are many amazing women and men who call out any behaviour that would make a mother, any woman, or any person, feel uncomfortable.

I salute these people.

I hope our cycling community shows it’s strength, voice and action to make sure ALL riders, including women, are made to feel welcomed, safe and respected every time they ride.

Perhaps then, we’ll have no need of panic alarms for female cyclists.

Here’s to hoping.

Have a safe Mother’s Day all.

Resources:

Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.
Image: Bill Penn
Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.
Image: Rape and Domestic Violence Australia
Happy Fearful Mother's Day Cycling Mums! Bicycles Create Change.com. 12th May, 2019.
ABC Breakfast radio segment (above): Constant abuse stops women riding bikes

Transferring Alison’s sailing insights to BikeHack19

My last post was an invitation to Brisbane’s upcoming BikeHack19 event. I have had a lot of interesting responses and conversations with friends and colleagues about this event and suggestions for pitches.

I asked Alison Turner, a dear friend, if she would like to come to BikeHack19 with me. 

Alison and I have worked on a number of creative projects before. She not only has a head for business and project managing, but she is a skilled artist in her own right and I have called on her (many times!) when working on this-or-that thing either to cast her discerning eye over an idea, to practically help solve a design issue or just to join in making whatever it is I’m working on.

She is great company, a skilled artist, a flexible thinker and killer at scrabble – everything you want in a project buddy!

Unfortunately though, Alison can’t come to BikeHack19.

But the offer got her thinking.

Alison worked for Australia Sailing for many years and was in charge of training and increasing participation in sailing in Queensland. So unbeknownst to me, she set her business prowess and program insights to good work. After doing some research of her own, she used her experience promoting sailing participation to the BikeHack19 cycling challenge and brainstormed some ideas.

The next time I saw Alison, she presented me with her brainstorm (see below) and explained it in detail – it was spot on.

Transferring Alison’s sailing insights to BikeHack19. Bicycles Create Change.com. 8th May, 2019.
Alison and her BikeHack19 brainstorm.

We chatted about the similarities in crossover of participation issues between sailing and cycling – and how much transferability there was between the two sports.

I love having people like Alison in our community. She is an example of those who not only freely give their time and ideas to friends, but who are equally excited to apply the same effort and passion to building a more cohesive and active community – what a gift!

I am very appreciative to Alison.

Thanks so much for your ideas and time!

I will definitely be taking these ideas to BikeHack19.

Alison’s initial brainstorm

Key organizations:

Sport Aus/Aust Sport and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)

Clearing House for Sport

Using as background the Gemba Report 2012:

  • Cycling had (in 2012) 17% participation joint third in the 15 sports Surveyed with swimming the top at 33% and sailing at the bottom with 2%
  • Gender ratios in cycling were 18% male and 15% female
  • Cycling participation declined from 31% in the 5-9 year age group, 27% in the 65-75 year age group
  • 39% of participants cycle more than once a week
  • Of the top 15 sports, cycling is third with 8.8point eight% participation and frequency (after gym and swimming)
  • Future interest insight going showed 5% really interested, 10% neutral, and 69% not interested
  • Barriers to cycling participation – cost, lack of equipment and who to participate with
  • Cycling was NOT in the top 5 sports noted as being:
    • ageless
    • innovative
    • Australian
    • exciting
    • fun
    • has integrity
    • accessible
    • community
    • cool
    • exclusive
    • for older people
    • for younger people
    • gaining in popularity
    • International
    • popular or safe

General comments

  • Sponsorship for programs are likely to be remembered
  • In my sports males are more dominant
  • Competition is a very small percentage of participation in sport
  • Health is improved if participants find enjoyment in the sport
  • Are there any junior cycling programs like Auskick or Surf Groms or Surf lifesaving Nippers?
  • Future participant needs should be considered
Transferring Alison’s sailing insights to BikeHack19. Bicycles Create Change.com. 8th May, 2019.
Transferring Alison’s sailing insights to BikeHack19. Bicycles Create Change.com. 8th May, 2019.
Transferring Alison’s sailing insights to BikeHack19. Bicycles Create Change.com. 8th May, 2019.

BikeHack19 Invite

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

Brisbane is hosting Australia’s first-ever hackathon about bike riding BikeHack19 later this month.

In a similar vein to a 3 Day Start Up or tech Hackathons, this event is focused on solving a problem. In this case, the cycling challenge is…..

How can bike riding be more accessible and appealing in Queensland so people ride bikes more often?

This event is not focused on changing policy, but it is an exploration of any other possibilities that could include bike tech, gamification, design, data, support services or new business ideas.

Anyone over the age of 18 can participate as long as they are not a government employee.

When I went earlier this week to BikeHack19’s info night, I was sitting next to a tech start-up entrepreneur on one side and an engineer on the other. Other people I spoke to came from widely diverse backgrounds including sociologists, researchers, students, town planners, public health academics and programmers. I was surprised at how few cyclists there were.

Here’s the event schedule.

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

BikeHack19 is promoted as being an opportunity to meet new people and expand networks. As well as working with fellow hackers in teams over the weekend to process their ideas, there are also industry experts, advisors and funders on hand to suggest and mentor teams throughout the process.

Previously, I participated in a 3 Day Start-Up  (3DS) intensive which ran 40 Griffith PhD candidates through an entrepreneurial practical intensive on how to develop aspects of their PhD research into a start-up business. It was fun, but very intense. Five key reflections emerged for me from my 3DS experience – insights that I will need to revisit as I consider if I will participate in BikeHack19.

It was interesting to see some of alternative views about BikeHack19’s purpose and objectives being voiced on Reddit.  In many cases, online forums and interest groups have a wealth of ideas and comments on localised issues.

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

Ideas, resources and profiles

A long list of relevant data and an array of resources have been collated to help generate the best ideas – here is a few:

BikeHack19 provides a comprehensive list of data and resources – check it out!

Queensland Bike Strategy’s recent bike riding updates and case studies.

To help focus and refine ideas, the organisers commissioned Enhance Research to look into the issue using a 3-phase research design. They collated findings into 3 ‘profiles’ on the common type of bike riders in Queensland and their motivation.

These profiles (see them below) inform the three challenge categories and can be used as a stimulus ‘target market’ for the teams.

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

Cash Prizes

Overall, there is $25,000 in prize money – much more than other similar events.

The $25,000 is divided into four cash prizes.

            Overall team with best idea: – $10,000

One (1) overall winner prize of $10,000 for ‘best overall idea’ and three category winner prizes ($5,000 each) will go to the teams that come up the best ideas that address each of the three categories:

  1. Active Transport – $5,000 prize
  2. Happy, Healthy Families – $5,000 prize
  3. Tourism and Recreation – $5,000 prize

Winners will be determined by a judging panel on the Sunday night. Prize money will be distributed to each member of the winning team, equally with no strings attached.

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

What is expected by the end of the weekend?

There are no hard and fast rules on what is expected as a finished ‘product’ to be pitched in the final presentation on Sunday evening.  The focus is more on teams working through stages of ideation, process and development of solutions to the challenge.

So if you have an idea about how to get more Queenslanders on bicycles – check out BikeHack19 and pitch your idea.

Who knows maybe your idea will win!

To be part of BikeHack19 will cost you $30. Register here

BikeHack19 is proudly presented by Fishburners Brisbane in collaboration with Aaron Birkby, and is supported by Aurecon and the Dept. of Transport and Roads.

Here are the three profiles:

BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.
BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.
BikeHack19 Invite. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th May, 2019.

All images from: BikeHack19 or from the event info night PPT by Enhance Research.

Anzac Day: Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps

This week, Australia and New Zealand commemorated ANZAC day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

ANZAC Day is a national annual public holiday honoring the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

On this blog last year, we looked at the Fitzpatricks’ (2011) book ‘The bicycle in wartime’ which is an impressively well researched and detailed account of how bicycles feature in the military. The year before, we looked at The Australian Cycling Corps and what kinds of bikes were used in World War 1.

This year, I saw an Instagram photo of the Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps. It was uploaded by Space4Cycling Brisbane. Here is what was uploaded:

Anzac Day: The Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps. Bicycles Create Change.com. 30th April, 2019.

Our illustration of the Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps prior to their departure for South Africa in the steamer Templemore has a special interest for all Australians. The cycle corps here depicted consists of 51 men, commanded by Lieutenant Wynyard Joss, who has an able second in Lieutenant Koch ; these two gentlemen are to be seen in the foreground. The photograph was taken on the wharf, the troopship Templemore making a befitting background.

Apart from the interest attached to the fact that this is the first military cycle corps established in Australia, it is interesting to note that, the whole corps is mounted upon Massey-Harris bicycles.

Previous to the selection of a wheel for the contingent the bicycles were subjected to very severe tests, through which the Massey-Harris came with flying colours. The purchase of Masseys for the Queensland soldiers is justified by the fact that the Victorian Government have used this machine with much success in the hard service of postal work.

Content from: The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, Sat 23 March 1901, covering the Departure of Australian Imperial Troops for South Africa (the Boer War)].

Anzac Day: The Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps.  Bicycles Create Change.com. 30th April, 2019.
Image: Digger History. Australia did not have a separate Corps or hat badge for Cyclists.
This one is British.

So what happened to the Queensland Cyclist Corps?

After I saw that post, I wanted to know what became of the cyclist section once they left Australia on the Templemore. So, I went searching online and I found the following details on the Anglo Boer website. It was interesting to read the recount of Lieutenant Joss of the 5th Queensland (Cyclist Corps) engagement with the enemy at the end of this article. Below is the article in full:

This contingent, 500 strong, with a cyclist section, was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J F Flewell-Smith. They sailed on the Templemore on 6th March 1901, and arrived in South Africa in the beginning of April. They at once took the field.

The appendix to the despatch of 8th July 1901 shows that the 5th QIB (strength in May about 340, with 361 horses) took the place of the 4th in the column of General Plumer—a body which did very fine service in practically all parts of the seat of war.

The work of Plumer’s column during the time the 5th Queensland were with him has already been briefly sketched under the 6th New Zealand Contingent. The 5th Queensland took their full share of that work, and quite their full share of the captures. On 15th June Lieutenant Halse was severely wounded in the difficult country about Piet Retief.

On 15th August 2 men were killed and several wounded at Kopjesfontein, in the Orange River Colony. In September the column was doing good work in the southeast of that country, and was constantly in touch with the enemy.

At a drift on the Caledon River on 27th September there was a sharp fight, in which this contingent had Lieutenants A E Pooley and L E Caskey and 2 men killed, and several wounded. Lieutenant Pooley had served as a sergeant with the 4th contingent.

The corps was present at the hard-fought engagement known as Onverwachte, in the south-east of the Transvaal, on 4th January 1902, when they suffered very severely,—about 12 being killed and 20 wounded, the latter including Captain H R Carter and Lieutenant Higginson, both severely wounded.

According to the Press Association correspondent with General Plumer, Lieutenant Joss of the 5th Queensland (Cyclist Corps) did a smart piece of work in the Warmbaths district soon after the corps took the field. When riding with despatches, and accompanied by only 10 men, he captured 9 Boers with 3 waggons.

Some details of the regiment were with a convoy which was fiercely attacked on the Bethel Road on 25th May 1901. The detachment lost 1 killed and 5 wounded.

Anzac Day: The Queensland Imperial Cycle Corps. Bicycles Create Change.com. 30th April, 2019.
Cyclists in camp repairing their machines.
Photo: H.W. Wilson: With the Flag to Pretoria, Vol II)

Six Day Brisbane Final

Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Image: Six Day Series

On the weekend I went to the Anna Mears Velodrome for the Six Day Series Final Brisbane.

OMG.

It was AWESOME!

I’ve never been to Six Day cycling event before. I was there at the invitation of World Bicycle Relief (Australia). It was my pleasure to help them out for the event. Not only was I supporting a good cause, but I got to watch some incredible racing, meet my favourite inter/national cyclists, chat with some big-wigs and mingle with cycling-mad punters all night! Horray!

The Anna Meares Velodrome is the perfect stadium for this kind of event. I was stoked to see some of the world’s best track cyclists in live action – especially how they whiz so confidently around the 48-degree velodrome banks – eck!

There are excellent views and seating all around the outside of the track as well as a walk tunnel that went under the velodrome and let you into the centre. Inside the velodrome, there was a bar, a few trade exhibitions, the DJ stage, the podium/race ramp, and activities on one side, and the athletes compound on the other.

As support of the riders and in the spirit of the event, I wore my recycled bicycle parts and inner-tube outfit. This outfit includes a cog steampunk-style hat, a bodice of inner tubes interwoven across the front, a bike chain chandelier belted skirt and a necklace of made of inner tubes and BMX parts. A genuine (be)spoke outfit! (*aw dad!*). It was the perfect thing to wear. Lots of people stopped to ask about it and see the details. It was lovely to see how much people appreciated the effort, materials and appropriacy of the outfit for the event.

Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Image: Six Day Series

The music and light show was an unexpected bonus. The DJ played a continuous stream of banging beats supported by impressive party-style lighting. The whole overall effect was like being in the ultimate sports-and-dance club = a very exciting party atmosphere. People were even dancing. Beers, Beats and Bikes!

The place was packed each day. There were families, couples, groups of friends and kids galore. I talked to people who had come diligently every day and others who had no idea what the event was but had been given a ticket so came along to check it out. Everyone agreed it was a wonderful format to experience cycling. The atmosphere as electric, the races were so close you couldn’t help but be affected by the environment, excitement and energy of the action.

I also had the chance to chat with a few of my favorite Aussie cyclists like Amy Cure and Olympian Shane Perkins. Considering they had just finished racing and had much to do (and lots of people to talk to), I was impressed that they still made time to come into the crowd and mingle, have a chat and hang out with some of their fans after racing. What true champs!

The race formats included various scratch and points races including Madison, Elimination, Derny Racing, Women’s Omnium, 200m Time Trials and Kirin. Some of the formats like the Madison were new to me, but after I understood what it entailed (see video below), the racing took on a whole new intensity.

Cyclists like Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and Australian superstars Callum Scotson and nine-time World Champion Cameron Meyer (who won the Six Day London event in 2017) have competed at the European Six Day Series.

I had a brilliant time and will definitely go again.

A huge thank you to Dagmar, Ali, Scott and World Bicycle Relief for the opportunity to go to this event and for making my time there so enjoyable.

Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Amy Cure and I with one of World Bicycle Relief’s Buffalo Bikes
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Image: Six Day Series
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Six Day Series Final Brisbane. Bicycles Create Change.com. 26th April, 2019.
Image: Six Day Series

The Solution of Cycling. Bicycle Politics: Review Essay. (1 of 4)

Work on my community bicycle PhD research project requires me to read a lot of academic literature on bikes. Whilst it is my immense pleasure, there is always more to read. Recently, I came across a review essay by Dr Jennifer Bonham (University of Adelaide) that summarised and appraised three key (and popular) American ‘bicycle politics’ books. This essay a very interesting read as it identifies critical histo-politico-social aspects of bicycling from each of the books in an accessible, succinct and thoughtful way. Woohoo! What a gift! So here is Dr Bonham’s full essay IDEAS IN MOTION: ON THE BIKE as a series of four blog posts. This first post covers the intro and background, followed by three more – one post each reviewing, in turn, the three bicycle books below. A massive thank you to Jennifer for her analytical synthesis explaining why riding a bike is a political act. Enjoy! NG.

  • Wray, J. H. (2008). Pedal power: The quiet rise of the bicycle in American public life. Boulder, CA: Paradigm Publishers.
  • Furness, Z. (2010). One less car: Bicycling and the politics of automobility. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
  • Mapes, J. (2009). Pedaling revolution: How cyclists are changing American cities. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press.
Bicycle Politics: Review Essay. The Solution of Cycling. 1 of 4. Bicycles Create Change.com. 8th April, 2019.
Image: Golfian.com

Introduction: The Solution of Cycling

by Dr Jennifer Bonham (University of Adelaide).

Since the mid-1990s, bicycling has been identified as a solution to problems ranging from climate change and peak oil to urban livability, congestion and public health. A plethora of guidelines, strategies, policy statements, plans and behavior change programs have been produced— especially in industrialized countries—in an effort to encourage cycling. Despite many localities registering increases in cycling over the past decade, English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States continue to have extremely low national rates of cycling. The benefits of cycling are widely accepted and barriers well documented but changes are slow, uneven, and often contested. The disjuncture between government rhetoric and commitment to bicycling (via legislation, funding, infrastructure) foregrounds the broader cultural and political context within which cycling is located.

Implementing pro-cycling1 policies is difficult in cultural contexts where bicycles/bicyclists are set in a hierarchical relation with automobiles/ motorists and the latter valued over the former. It is equally difficult to effect cultural change when decision makers fail to prioritize cycling on the political agenda. A key research problem has been to understand how the hierarchical relation between different travel practices has been established and reproduced. Often, this problem is approached by centering the automobile in the analysis:2 a tactic which positions the motor vehicle in a series of dichotomous relations with “other” travel practices—private/public, motorized/non-motorized, choice/captive.

Such dichotomous approaches have been widely criticized for re-creating rather than undermining established hierarchies.3 An alternative tactic involves unpicking the mechanisms through which these categories are produced and bodies are differentially valued. Recently the bike has been placed at the centre of the analysis in an effort to unsettle its persistent marginalization. However, this type of analysis will be limited if it simply reproduces the bicycle/automobile dichotomy.

Throughout the late twentieth century, “cyclists” and everyday practices of cycling have been constituted through concepts and research practices within the field of transport and positioned as problematic—in terms of safety, efficiency, orderliness. But the past 15 years4 have seen researchers from a range of disciplines—health, political science, geography, sociology, urban planning and transport—creating new “versions” of cycling.5 As they centre bicycling in their work and offer recommendations on “what is lacking” and “what should change” they also provide insights into the mechanisms by which cyclists have been explicitly excluded from or marginalized within public space, academic study and public policy. This literature is a fundamental part of political and cultural change not so much for the veracity of its claims but in re-constituting cycling as an object of study and opening the path to alternative ways of thinking about and practicing mobility.

From the early 2000s, there has been a steady growth in research into practices of cycling and cycling sub-cultures.6 Arguably, this ethnographically oriented work can be traced to Michel de Certeau’s seminal essay Walking in the City,7 which made apparent the historical and cultural specificity of contemporary travel practices. There has been a steady growth in research into particular travel/mobility practices and sub-cultural groups who identify through their mobility.8 The study of local cycling groups and cycling sub-cultures challenges hegemonic meanings, which devalue bicycling, and offers alternative mobility futures. They can also link bike riders to more mainstream values and beliefs thereby questioning their marginal status. The very practice of riding a bike and/ or being part of a cycling sub-culture is implicitly political as it challenges dominant forms of mobility. However, some individuals and sub-cultural groups are explicitly political as they use the subject position of cyclist as a means by which to resist exclusion and advocate for bike riding.

The books reviewed in this paper examine the bicycle culture-politics nexus in the context of the United States. They provide explanations for the marginalization of cycling but more particularly they are concerned with how to bring about change. Each author addresses culture and politics to different degrees, recognizing them as inextricably linked but emphasizing one or the other in their analyses. They draw upon research from health and environmental sciences, architecture, urban, and transport planning to support their arguments rather than reflecting on this knowledge as a fundamental part of contemporary culture or cultural change. Culture is discussed in terms of the sites through which meanings are attached to cycling—especially film and television, literature, advertising, and news reporting—and how these are being challenged through the bicycle cultures and everyday mobility practices that form part of a growing social movement in cycling.

Image: Bikeyface.com

Notes

  1. Pedestrians, public transport users, scooter riders, roller bladers and so forth could be included along with cycling.
  2. For example, James Flink, The Car Culture (Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1975); Peter Freund and George Martin, The Ecology of the Automobile (Montreal: Black Rose Books Ltd 1993); Mimi Sheller and John Urry, “The City and the Car,” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 24 no. 4 (2000): 737–757.
  3. Feminists from Butler to Hekman have been at the forefront of this critique. Judith Butler, Gender Trouble (New York: Routledge, 1990); Susan Hekman, The Material of Knowledge: Feminist Disclosures (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010).
  4. This timeline reflects research into everyday cycling in English-speaking countries.
  5. Borrowing Annemarie Mol’s theorization of different versions of reality, I want to suggest we do not have a single object (the cyclist) which is studied through a different lens by each discipline; rather we create the cyclist in different ways through the methodologies we use within each discipline. Annemarie Mol, The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice (Durham: Duke University Press, 2002).
  6. The Ethnographies of Cycling workshop held at Lancaster University in 2009 included presentations from a number of researchers working in this area since the early 2000s. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/centres/cemore/event/2982/
  7. Michel de Certeau, The Practice of Everyday Life (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984).

Dr Jennifer Bonham is a senior lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide. She has a background in human geography specializing in urbanization and cultural practices of travel. Her research focuses on devalued mobilities as it explores the complex relationship between bodies, spaces, practices, and meanings of travel. Her current research explores the gendering of cycling. Jennifer’s work is informed by a concern for equitable and ecologically sustainable cities.

Contact details: School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia. jennifer.bonham@adelaide.edu.au

This excerpt is from: Bonham, J. (2011). Bicycle politics: Review essay. Transfers, 1(1), 137. doi:10.3167/trans.2011.010110.

Images included here are not part of the original publication.

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019

This guest blog post by Jen Sheean is about the Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival. Onthe night, The Style over Speed crew rode from Brisbane city to the cinema at St Lucia, where the incredible cycOZ performed an infectious bicycle-inspired percussion set on arrival (see end photos). Last year, Bella and I entered our film Leki, which took out the People’s Choice Award. This year, I gave my tickets to Jen, a fellow singlespeed MTBer who had not been to the festival before. Not only did Jen have a good time, but she kindly wrote a summary of the films shown. Thanks so much Jen! See you all at the Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival next year! Enjoy! NG.

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
Image: Martin Fisch

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019

Thanks to the generosity of Nina, my husband and I spent a slightly wet Friday night at the Schonell Theatre in UQ enjoying the Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival.

It was a wonderful night and very well-attended.  As I understand it, the change this year to a bigger venue meant that the previously sold-out event still had some tickets available.  This is a great development because, in my opinion, more people should head to it and see what it has to offer. 

I plan to go again!

The first half of the night saw some announcements from Mark Bailey, the Minister for Cycling (as I understand is his preferred title having moved on from being mangocube), about the newly opened Gateway Bicycle Path and some upcoming projects for more bicycle paths in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.  Announcements of more paths are always a happy thing in this somewhat cycling challenged city of ours. 

Space for Cycling is the organiser of the event and they should be congratulated on how smoothly it ran.  Their drive to push for safer ways to travel by bicycle in the CBD appears boundless – and I hope they see some decent success soon.

After the formalities, it was on to the short films competing for prizes, including the People’s Choice Award which was won last year by a film in which the indefatigable Nina was heavily involved.

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
@space4cyclingbne

Brisbane Bike Bites

These short films must be no more than 5 minutes and have some connection to both Brisbane and cycling.  There was a range of approaches to these very broad criteria but that just added to the fun.

The first film was called I Love to Ride My Bicycle.  It was a spiffy 1:37 long but it had everyone laughing from beginning to end.  The concept was simple but brilliantly executed.

The next was The Gate.  Another simple concept but the credits were the real star of this film.  They were full of tongue-in-cheek references greatly appreciated by the audience – so much so that they (the film makers not the credits) took out the People’s Choice Award.

Pedal-mentry provided a fascinating look at a club that is populated by people who have customised their bicycles.  Some of the creations were totally whacky!  But the individuality shown by all of the bicycles is a testament to the creativity of their owners.

On the Fly followed a ride around Brisbane.  Then it had a cat at the end.  I really liked the cat.

Club Song Film was true to its name.  It showcased the vocal talents of a penny farthing club.  They all dressed in era-specific garb and seemed to be having a jolly old time in their singalong around the piano.

Inspired by a similar era, A Jaunty Jaunt took out first prize.  The highlight was the juxtaposition of the olde time costume and penny farthing bicycle of the main character and his meeting with his modern day counterpart.  It was a truly fun concept.

Finally, the last bite sized film was The Epic of Spring Hill.  This faux-documentary about an intrepid pair attempting to summit Spring Hill was a delight from start to finish.  The bike skills on display while riding City Cycles were impressive but I particularly liked when they decided to climb the steps up to the summit using a rope and the lead climber thought briefly about cutting the rope holding his companion.  Spoiler alert:  They did reach the summit by bike but it appears their claim to be the first to do so has been disputed.

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
Image: The Bikes of Wrath

The Main Feature

These very clever short films were followed by the main feature.  The Bicycles of Wrath is a film in which 5 mates from Victoria decide to follow, by bike, the route taken by the ill-fated Joad family in the Steinbeck novel, The Grapes of Wrath

It was beautifully done and showcased the generosity of those with little to give in a way that nicely mirrored Steinbeck’s underlying theme.  I truly enjoyed it.  I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in Steinbeck, bicycles, travel or human nature.

We left the event wondering how it is we’d never been before. 

That said, we will be there next year and I recommend you consider going as well!

Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
@claudia_bergs
Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
@space4cyclingbne
Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
Entertainment on arrival by cycOZ. Image @space4cyclingbne
Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
@space4cyclingbne
Brisbane Bicycle Film Festival 2019. Bicycles Create Change.com. 31st March, 2019.
@space4cyclingbne