Category: Culture

Humans on Bikes: Reaching beyond the strong and fearless

I met up with Sara Stace, creator of Humans on Bikes, Board Director of Cycle and Executive Director of Link.Place.Live, at the picturesque bike friendly cafe Sassys on the Swan in Perth recently and asked her a few questions about her passion for bicycles and her work.

I wondered how her passion for bicycles started and I found her story was basically similar to mine and many others that ride in normal clothes. Sara uses her passion to inspire others via her ‘hobby’ and create policies to support more people on bicycles through her day job.This is what she had to say:

“I am from Perth originally and my passion for bicycles started when I was young. I rode my bike everywhere. I rode to school, to uni and to work. All my friends rode and I didn’t really think about it.

Now I am a transport rider and ride a cargo bike and drop the kids to school. Working on Humans on Bikes and being a board member on Cycle is really my ‘hobby’.

Only 1-2% of people consider themselves bike riders, 7% use bikes for transport and are confident riders, 33% are interested but concerned and 57% say ‘no way’ will they get on a bike. Infrastructure is usually aimed at the first two groups, the strong and the fearless and, unfortunately, fails the other groups. The 33% of the population that is interested but concerned, may ride for transport if more separated bike lanes and paths are provided.

The idea of Humans on Bikes follows a similar format as Humans of New York. People send photos in from all over the world. I also talk to people I see riding and they share their story and pose for a photo.

The biggest challenge in promoting cycling has been convincing bureaucrats and politicians. Clover Moore, City of Sydney Mayor, is gutsy and has a strong vision regarding what she wants to achieve to make a better city. Moore is often attacked by the media and this puts off other politicians and bureaucrats.

My biggest achievements so far have been writing the Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport  and the ACT Active Travel Framework.

Changes are happening. Less people want their own car and more people are walking, riding and using public transport. More people will consider shared vehicles and use private online sharing services like Go Get, or Car Next Door  that are similar to Air BnB. In the next 20-30 years there will be electric driverless shared vehicles.

In the future we won’t need extra family cars. People will ride, walk or share driverless cars so there will be less car ownership. Everyday bike riding will reach beyond the strong and fearless bike riders to include all those interested in riding, as their concerns will be better addressed.

Imagine the future with less individual car ownership. There will be less car parking and a move to higher and better uses for parking spaces such as proper separated bike lanes, alfresco dining or more trees and playgrounds.”

Sally and Vera in 2015.

Sally’s Saturday morning rides

I’m 62, and I work as a family mediator, a job I’ve done for the last 35 or so years. I work part-time, in the interests of keeping my sanity. My hobbies include cycling (obviously!), reading and playing games on the computer (mostly fantasy role-playing games).

Before enrolling in the cycling course in 2009, I wasn’t exercising much. I used to swim regularly when I was pregnant, and I used to walk regularly, but I wasn’t doing either of those as much as I felt I ought to – possibly because of too many games on the computer. So I saw the Back on Your Bike course run by City of Stirling and signed up. I was VERY nervous when I first got back on a bike after after, oh, probably 20 or so years. I was very wobbly and no confidence at all. But Joanne, the coach and City of Stirling Officer, was extremely patient with me and the rest of the other course participants and it wasn’t all that long before I learned to use gears and steer the bike without worrying TOO much about falling off.

The thing that made a huge difference to me, though, was that after the intensive skills development part of the course finished there were several weeks of lower-key skills development combined with social rides. If that hadn’t happened, I don’t think I’d still be riding today.

Back in 2009, my mother who lived in Dunsborough was quite unwell, and her condition deteriorated during 2010. She died in mid-2011. I went from occasional trips down to Dunsborough to monthly trips then to fortnightly ones, which made it difficult to keep up with regular riding. When I was not going down to Dunsborough quite so often, I rode with the group run by Jen Faint, I think it was Sundays?  Maybe Saturdays. However, she stopped organising those rides. By the time everything was sorted out with Mum’s estate and I was feeling up to riding again, there wasn’t a regular Saturday group and the Friday and Sunday groups were riding too far and too fast for me. So I thought, “Well, if I RUN a Saturday group, I’ll HAVE to get up and ride on Saturday mornings.” So I started organising a Saturday group.

There was one week where nobody turned up, but after that there was usually at least one other person. I started getting ladies from the Learning to Ride and Back on Your Bike courses because the Saturday rides were shorter and more gently paced than the Sunday or Friday rides.

I’m currently trying to get myself into cycling regularly more than once a week, but it’s sometimes hard to get motivated when it’s early in the morning and I’d rather sleep in.  As well, I’ve had bad doses of flu during each of the last three winters, which means a slow return to cycling even on Saturdays.

I’ve done some short bike rides around home – these days, I’d probably hop on my bike to get to the ATM or the post box rather than drive down. I did try riding to the local markets once, but I buy too much there!  Because I live on the top of a hill, and everywhere means going downhill but then returning uphill (and I’m not good on hills!) I don’t ride as much locally as I could. I’ve been considering buying an electric bike, though, and I think that’s likely to happen eventually. At that point I’ll probably do more local riding, and maybe cycle to and from the train station when I commute to work rather than driving there.

Through organising the Saturday rides I’ve made friendships  and joined a book club. I’m considerably fitter than I used to be. I organised a ride and high tea for my 60th birthday, which was lovely. I know a lot of wonderful paths around Perth, and I know there are a lot more I haven’t yet discovered. I know a lot of nice cafes to have coffee or breakfast at too, and I take my son out for brunch every couple of months. EVENTUALLY, I’ll go back to Dunsborough just to ride the cycle path between Busselton and Dunsborough. I’m considering – though not yet planning – a Bike to Barge cruise in Europe for 2018 or so.

Oh beautiful suburbia

Owning a five bedroom home with double garage and garden situated in a quiet urban neighbourhood is synonymous with living the accomplished, settled life. In fact, home ownership remains one of the hallmarks of living the Australian dream.

There is nothing wrong with this dream per se. Only that isn’t actually a dream anymore, but a reality for many. The detached, single house has not only become a tangible for more Australians, the demand for it has let to an enormous urban sprawl which fundamentally shaped the faces of our cities, the way we travel within them and our expectation of its infrastructure. What does that mean? Let’s say you are living in the pictured neighbourhood: Do you expect to find a supermarket nearby? Will there be a school within reach? What about your local library, hairdresser or restaurants? How far will your workplace be away? And how will you get to all of these places?

While many would say ‘yes’ to all of the above, the common expectation is that our desired destinations outside of home only require a short drive by car and a hopeful quick opportunity to park nearby. Look at universities, hospitals, shopping centres – in fact, picture any popular destination and you’ll also be able to imagine it’s car park. The suburbia we have come to love has become a place where we cook, eat, sleep and spend those hours in between said activities. The rest of our lives has become a careful construction of journeys to and from.

For many people this kind of life works. It is desirable for – predominantly mothers – to taxi children around town and contribute to their education and physical exercises that way. Our car offers a safe commute, a place for private conversations, contemplations. It is safe, fast, flexible, always available.

There are obvious moments when our expectations aren’t met: we’re stuck in traffic, can’t find parking or having to pay to park. Usually these moments remain without consequences and only become a topics of shared complaints around the kitchen table, with work colleagues or anyone else who cares to join in the shared disappointment. There aren’t any consequences because our demands are “more parking” and “better infrastructure” by which we mean more roads for cars.

Suburbia has a direct impact on our quality of life and level of health. When science warns us about the prevalence and danger of sedentary lifestyles, the time we spend at work sitting is only half the picture. For many the other half is usually spend tucked behind the steering wheel, sitting. The life in suburbia demands a price beyond its mortgage. It asks for the commitment to maintaining things they way they are: the job, the travel, the car.

Is there a viable alternative to living comfortably yet more actively? When we dream of ‘livable neighbourhoods’ and ‘connected communities’ do we just imagine a group of detached single houses next to a train line, or an extra shared path we can ride on? Maybe we just mean a bit more time so we can build a bit more exercise into our day?

As long as the majority of us want a slice of the Australian Dream there will be more single houses and we all live more of the same. Long live suburbia!

A beginners guide to picking the right bicycle

Many recent graduates of our adult bike classes have a number of burning questions all around the same topic: what type of bike should I buy? What’s the best bicycle for me? And, most importantly, how much should I spend?

Whilst all good questions, we thought we should provide you with a checklist that will help you make the right decision. Firstly, whilst it’s tempting to just ask for any bicycle as a Christmas gift and leave the decision-making process to someone else, be aware that this will result in two things: 1) You will have a bike (yay). 2) You will most likely have a bike that, at least in some respects, you may not actually like. So, make the choice of picking a bicycle yours, then, with a specific list of criteria defined by you, hand the list to Santa (or go shopping yourself).

A lot of budget conscious beginners wonder whether purchasing a second-hand bicycle would do the trick. With any bicycle the question is, do you know what you want? If you do and you find the right bicycle on gumtree, of course that’s an option. With any new purchase that’s not from a reputable retailer, do budget money for a decent service before you embark on your first ride. Be aware that a very cheap bike may turn into a costly steed if many vital parts need replacing. If you’re not sure how to check whether a bike is roadworthy, do yourself a favour and go with a purchase that comes with a warranty.

Start your contemplation by pinning down what type of riding you think you’ll be doing most. Think about the lengths of rides, are they short strolls around your neighbourhood? Are you planning to go riding in the hills? Do you want to commute to work? How fit are you and what skill level do you have? The distance you’re planning to travel, the type of surface you’ll be riding on and the potential to carry bags with you are all determining factors of what will be most suitable bicycle for you. For someone who is just getting back into riding these questions may not be easily answered, but they are incredibly worthwhile to think about.

Find a quality retailer who is helping you with customising your bicycle to suit your needs.

As long as you’re not sure what type of riding you may enjoy, the best option could be to simply hire a range of different bikes over a few weekends and trial them for comfort and fit. Try a bicycle with a step through frame that will see you sit-up straight and will allow you to move your leg onto the bicycle easily. The advantages of step-through bicycles are they are easy to ride for beginners as their tires are usually wider, allowing you to ride with ease on asphalt as well as gravel surfaces. Step-throughs are also forgiving when you bumble over curbs and they handle storing of little cargo like shopping, or handbags in baskets or on penny racks easily.

Disadvantages? Step-throughs are usually heavier and slower. If you plan to put your bicycle onto, or inside your car to get to the start of your riding trip this type of bicycle will require some serious elbow-grease. Another down-side is the number of gears. Usually step-throughs come with a smaller number of them (three to seven). This makes getting the hang of them easier, but it also means the longer and more hilly your ride, the more effort is required on your behalf.

Mountain bicycles are perfect for gravel roads and off-road adventures. They can be even fun to ride in city environments and make handling curbs and bumps easy. Plenty of gears will get you up those hills in no time and their thick, wide tires provide plenty of grip on gravel, although they will slow you down on asphalt. The flat, straight handlebar of mountain bikes can be challenging for beginners as the seating position feels a lot more forward, which can be daunting.

If you like the flat handle bar of a mountain bike, but are planning to ride more on sealed ground a combination of the step-through and mountain bike could be the right vehicle. City bicycles or commuter bicycles can usually accommodate a little bit of both worlds and still give you a some level of comfort. City bicycles come usually with thinner tires – remember, the thinner the tires the speedier the ride! While enjoyed by regular riders, a quick, sleek ride can be slightly terrifying for beginners.

You should know that any part of your bicycle can be customised. For example, if a standard flat handle-bars is annoying you, it can be replaced with a differently shaped one. If you love the colour and frame of your pick, but don’t like its seat, it can be fitted with another one. The key is to find someone who listens to your wishes and is assisting you with adjusting your bike. if you are told that replacing pedals or putting on a penny rack or basket isn’t possible then you may not be talking to the right person. It definitely pays to shop around.

After you’ve tested a few bicycles go with the one that you’re comfortable with right now, not the one you’re told will be the right match in a year’s time. Plenty of bicycles end up unused, stacked in garages because they just weren’t the right purchase. Things like position of the seat, handlebar, ease of reaching and using your brakes are crucial – if it doesn’t feel right now you will very likely be dreading to get on the bicycle instead of using your new vehicle regularly. The advantage of going on a test ride is that you can see whether after twenty minutes your opinion of the bicycle is still the same or whether it is uncomfortable. Always listen to your butt as well as your gut!

November courses open for enrolment

November is unarguably the best time in Perth to learn how to ride a bike, get back into it and join a riding group to keep practicing. The wind is losing its cool nip, temperatures are climbing into the comfortable 20 degrees Celsius – not too warm, not too cold – and then there are the vast blue Perth skies. True, there’s always a blue sky spanning across this city, but there is no better place than marveling at it from the seat of a saddle.

Because November is simply perfect we’ve just scheduled another set of adult riding courses that will enable you to learn, practice and perfect your riding skills. There is no better way to actually ride a bike than knowing exactly how to avoid the most common hiccups and safely navigate through curly situations. Many people use shared paths across town to enjoy Spring, which makes paths a busy place to be, which can be challenging for those who have never ridden, or those who need a refresher of how to handle the bike.

If you like people watching this is good fun there is more out to see. Although not a native to WA, Jacarandas are now in full blossom and Applecross is a particularly great neighbourhood if you’re keen to have a look at the sea of purple flowers. Not sure how to get there? Join Jillian’s five week social ride and learn the best tricks and trips for planning your own journey around town.

Nothing is killing us…

Grunting while lifting heavy objects, running upstairs, wiping off sweat – part of your daily life? Probably not. We successfully eradicated physical activity from our life, as much as possible. Instead we reserve a sweet spot for exercise in our diaries. When we feel like it. Or have spare time. Truth is we all prefer to take the lift, drive the car. Or even better: do nothing. Unless people are motivated to look and feel better or their doctor’s prognosis of impending diabetes or heart disease have provided sufficient fear.

This isn’t really news. In 2012 10% of the population of Australia aged 15 years and over said they were on a diet trying to either lose weight or other health reasons. We know that our screen time, which means sitting in front of work computers and TV’s at home, is taking up 58 hours per week of an adult life. Only one in ten Australians takes the recommended 10.000 steps per day. Hands on your heart, are you “moderately active” for 30 minutes most days of the week as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare suggests?

Profoundly baffling health advise has been rare: we know that our diet and exercise affects our health, our heart, organ and brain functions, mood. Everything we do, from the foods and drinks we choose (or not) to ingest to the amount of time we move, influences who we are, how we feel and how productive we are. Also no news is that these daily choices aren’t great: 63% of all Australians are overweight and obese. The prognosis isn’t rosy: most of us will develop type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the future. If these are too abstract a term think amputated limbs, clogged arteries, lost eyesight. Lost quality of life.

Yet, what are we doing about this? Nothing.

Occasionally swapping a muffin with an apple just won’t cut the mustard. Taking a walk on the beach on the weekend doesn’t mean our sedentary lifestyle has just been turned around. Signing up to Jenny Craig or buying a gym membership may be fueled by motivation. But statistics don’t lie and they tell us that neither diets nor gyms are the solution to our current conundrum.

Creating lasting change in our diet and lifestyle requires a basic understanding of two driving forces: motivation and habit. Motivation means a person has a reason for acting or behaving in a particular way. This reason could be to feel happier, look slimmer or it could be an upcoming test at our GP. We consciously remind us of the reason for our behaviour and this conscious process doesn’t last for a long time. Habits come into play. Habits are a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Habits don’t need reminders. We just do.

If contemporary diet and lifestyle are causing diseases, the only solution is to create a culture that fosters healthy habits.

There is no easy quick-fix. Our current culture favours all of the habits that make us sick: from city designs that put cars first instead of active transport like the use of buses, trains, walking or cycling. Poor quality food that is cheaper, faster and sweeter on the pallet. Think of any celebration whether it is Christmas, Birthdays, ANZAC Day or Easter, each one comes with its own set of sweet treats that are part of the tradition. Think of how we treat each other: You’re sad? Here, have a piece of chocolate. You did great in an exam? Congratulations, have an ice cream.

If we want to change a situation caused by a multitude of factors then there is no one solution and neither policy changes nor sole individual champions can be the answer. One thing is clear though if we do want to change anything we can’t start with nothing. We’ll have to tackle everything. From consumer driven demands, fairer access to better infrastructure all of it must be on the table.

 

 

New adult learn how to ride courses

People on Bicycles is pleased to offer a fresh set of adult rider classes. Learn how to ride caters for absolute novices, who are keen to acquire the skills of riding a bicycle. There are many reasons why some people never learned as a child – from parents being overprotective, a neighbourhood that wasn’t overly cycle friendly or bicycles that were just too expensive for families to buy.

At the end of the three-week course most participants will be able to balance on the bike, ride a short stretch and master wide turns, which is a great start and a good basis to continue to build on

Many participants are motivated to learn to ride as it is a fun activity and good way to get fit, but are afraid of getting hurt and sustaining injuries that will put a stop to any further exercise. The focus of the course is on safety and how to avoid any mishaps so that participants know exactly how to get on and off the bike, balance and use the brakes, which will keep them safe during the class and whenever they head out on their own.

Those who learned to ride a bike when they were little, but haven’t set their bum on a seat for a while will find the Back on Your Bike class extremely useful. The reason why many adults don’t ride a bicycle is because they worry about what might happen and getting into a situation they feel they can’t control. Learning how to ride safely is key to building people’s confidence and with a few tips and tricks it is easy to make a ride as safe as possible.

For those keen to practice their newly learned or re-freshed skill, but are too shy to go out on their own can join the Share the Ride: social ride which guides them on Perth’s shared paths network through the city, discover some of the hidden treasures of the town and really continue to build their skills and confidence. The rides are guided by experienced accredited cycle coach who provides useful recommendations for each rider to improve event further.

Check out the upcoming courses for more information and future dates.

Sian’s discovery of joy, health and happiness

How many new skills have you been acquiring lately? If you’ve grown out of your twenties, maybe even thirties, answering this question may be not so easy, particularly when it comes to skills that can be physically challenging. if not mastered as a child, Learning how to ride a bicycle as an adult is definitely a task left unaccomplished by many. Not so for Sian, who is telling her story of how she fell in love with a new hobby.

 

“I’m a middle-aged woman of questionable social standing, often talkative, who prefers dogs to cats, reads science-fiction, and thinks the TV program Justified was significantly under-rated.”

“Two years ago I decided to get “a bit” serious about losing some weight and getting fitter. Swimming isn’t always easy to organise. I’d grown bored with walking (so slow!), and the cost of attending a gym was getting a little prohibitive. I had friends who cycled, so I thought ‘why not?’ and stumbling upon a cycle course organised through the City of Stirling. Having never been on a bicycle before, the prospect of learning to ride was certainly daunting, however, I opted for taking the ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ perspective.”

“My first cycling lesson was in early 2013 on a Saturday morning in the Stirling Council car park. I was terrified. And very intrigued when virtually the first thing the instructor did was to take the pedals off all the bikes. This turned out to be one of the most practical and safe ways to assist complete novices with the process of learning how to balance on the bike. I also have a distinct memory of suffering the most excruciatingly sore bottom and hamstrings for two days afterwards. By the end of the three week course I had earned both pedals back, could hop on and off, ride in a straight-ish line and turn very, very, very wide corners. Oh, and stop. Stopping by choice is a critical skill.”

“If support had ceased there, I doubt I’d be riding today. Thankfully, the City of Stirling ran a 10 week social ride which basically helped the small group of recent ‘intense course’ graduates to continue practicing those raw, new skills in the safety of understanding company and under the ever patient guidance of an instructor. These 10 weeks were pivotal for so many reasons, but let me list four: ongoing contact with other women who were at a similar point on their learning-to-cycle journey, regular time to meet just for the purpose of practicing newly acquired skill, an enthusiast yet empathetic mentor to guide the group and keep us distracted from our fears, and repetition of the basics, including safety considerations, without pressure to improve or compete. I simply cannot thank each of the women who participated enough, just for being there. We began the course with some of us wondering if we would ever be able to cycle 10 kilometers. We finished the course knowing that 15 kilometers was totally within our grasp, though we might need a coffee at the end.”

“At the conclusion of the 10 week course I purchased my first ever bike. Her name is Rosie, and she is a supremely sturdy beast of the hybrid variety, with wide tyres and straight handlebars. Rosie and I attached ourselves to a regular Saturday riding group, the Wheelie Wonderful Women, a truly great bunch of women, and occasionally would sneak in a mid-week ride on our own.”

“The amazing thing was how little I knew of Perth. This city has beautiful secrets one may never discover without a bicycle.”

“Time passed. My rides were getting longer and more frequent. I  joined another fabulous Sunday riding group. I was having fun. Then a small number of group members announced plans for a trip to New Zealand to ride the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail, which is eight days of riding some of the most scenic places on the New Zealand South Island. We trooped over in early December of 2014 and had the most spectacular time. There were several instances where I judiciously chose to dismount and walk and there were many, many more instances where I needed to stop and catch my breath (they have real hills over there). Nonetheless, it was glorious. I was having even more fun. Who knew cycling could be all that?”

“Back in Perth, Rosie was no longer everything I wanted in a bicycle. I had reached the point where the optimal number of bikes to own is N+1 (where N is the number of bikes you have right now). Besides, the sales were on. So, in 2015, I purchased my second bicycle; her name is Maxine. She is a carbon composite, flat-bar road bike with disc brakes and together we have yet more fun.”

“I still ride Rosie as she is safe in the wet, can trundle off-road and haul luggage, but there is something very pleasing about a bike like Maxine whose sole purpose is to just go.”

“An average week for me right now would involve 2–5 separate rides. At least one of those will be a social ride with social group, at least one will be over 30 kilometers and the extras often arise from commuting between home and work, which is ‘only’ 11.6 kilometers one way. If I can’t make a social ride I just pick a route and trundle off alone – there is no better stress relief than a decent bicycle ride.”

“Joining the social riding group and learning to cycle has changed my life in so many good ways. I’m certainly fitter, healthier and a little lighter. I’ve met amazing, inspiring women who are a delight to spend time with. I’ve explored places that would otherwise have remained unknown or inaccessible to me. Friends who used to cycle have ventured back on their bikes, and they are most impressed to discover that there is always a good coffee at the end of a ride.”

“One of the more curious run-on effects of becoming a fun-oriented cyclist was chatting with a friend who has been a cycling commuter for more than a decade. She realised that she hadn’t cycled for fun in years, it was simply a means to get from place to place. Now she has re-discovered riding for pleasure by taking a trip once a week along the coast or river and wonders why she deprived herself all this time.”

“There’s always something new to try once you have a bike. And in my experience, people interested in cycling are, for the most part, incredibly supportive and helpful. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”

If Sian’s story has inspired you to learn how to ride, get back on your bike or join a social ride, check out our upcoming classes.

How to get the cycling wheel turning in Australia?

Rugged up and riding – Utrecht December 2014

I was lucky enough to meet Anita Dirix at the VeloCity Global Cycling Conference in Adelaide this year. I kept in touch and asked her how can Australia move from a focus on cycling for sport to cycling for transport like the Dutch.  Our conversations resulted in the following.

How to get the cycling wheel turning in Australia?

The Dutch have a pragmatic approach to cycling and unintentionally became a major cycling influencer of the world. The Dutch success of cycling has created an international search for an explanation. How did the overall support for cycling start? Can the approach be duplicated in other countries? Can the Dutch process in becoming a cycling nation be reproduced in Australia?

During a recent visit to the Netherlands, the Australian influentials (government and policy makers) learnt that over the last 20 years, cycling was highly supported by the Dutch government, both local and regional. Cycling is not only highly supported in Amsterdam but also in other cities like Utrecht, Arnhem, Zwolle and Groningen. There are cyclists everywhere. The key questions of the Australian influentials during their visit to the Netherlands related to how to get the more Australians to ride like they do in the Netherlands and how did the cycling movement start?

The more obvious reasons for the Dutch success is that; it is a small country, flat, compact and easy to cycle. The majority of distances to cover are short and suitable for cycling. The Dutch also have a reputation of being economical, even frugal or stingy and cycling is easy and cheap. Dutch people ride for transport because it actually saves time.

The Netherlands have some ingredients which makes cycling flourish, but that does not distinguish them from other neighbouring countries. Of course the Dutch would like to know what started the change in behaviour, discover the one thing that made more people start cycling instead. Knowing that would be a big selling point, but the point is there was no big trigger as a starting point.

In Europe, and also in the Netherlands, there was always a tradition in cycling. At that time, cars and trains were still scarce. A bicycle was more available for obvious reasons. We are talking history, at the first part of the previous century. After the fifties cycling became old fashioned, a poor man’s transport. In the urge to push forwards and with rising prosperity, cars became the desired objects and favourite mode of transport in the Netherlands and in many countries around the world.

The growth of car use in the sixties and seventies was related to issues of prosperity and welfare and rarely to well being. Wikipedia claims the impact of the protest movement, Stop the Child murder, the oil shortage of the 70’s, and the presence of a left wing policy to focus more on well being for the whole instead of prosperity for the few, were a fertile soil to help cycling grow. It is like the starting point of the Nile; many springs make the river flow.

Please don’t misunderstand, cycling was not always taken as granted by all Dutch people. Although nowadays there is no Dutch politician was dares to neglect cycling, this was not always the case. The changes occurred because of some brave politicians who chose the path least trodden. They succeeded to give cycling a boost upwards much like a flywheel and accelerated the growth and support of cycling by the whole community. Looking back, the biggest changes were achieved fighting other challenges. Cycling prospered in the Netherlands when fighting challenges like air pollution, or fighting lack of space in historical centres or fighting traffic jams. The Dutch succeeded in creating a sufficient critical mass of cyclists to make it worthwhile, socially and financially to create good cycling infrastructure. The flywheel of change started turning round, which is still on going. It created a possibility for the Dutch government and policy makers to shift our focus from technical infrastructure, to creating better quality of space and creating better places to be.

Visitors to the Netherlands will notice that Dutch people don’t generally cycle from nowhere to elsewhere but cycle mainly for transport. Dutch people cycle not only on perfect infrastructure, but also cycle in an environment where shops, offices, all sort of activities are widely accessible by bicycle. Cycling in the Netherlands is included as part of normal life and is in everything to improve the quality of public space and urban planning, including social and economic activities. It all fits together.

The Dutch did not start cycling to change the world. The Dutch started cycling as a solution for certain local challenges. They had to deal with some urgencies and supporting cycling helped provide a solution to these urgent challenges. Solving barriers to cycling can help provide solutions to the other problems, creating the flywheel that can help you in turning the wheel around faster. Don’t fight cars, because you will still need them to be mobile; but change the mind frame to smart mobility. Don’t focus to change the world, but set examples which can persuade others to follow. Be persuasive instead of enforcing.

Choose the examples you wish to set wisely. Look for situations in your community where supporting cycling can be more effectively introduced. Look for opportunities. Look at geographical reasons, the willingness of the residents or some other urgent issue that needs to be solved. Setting examples will create energy that will flow and likely be more attractive for others to follow.

There is no copy and paste from the Dutch, you have to create your own flywheels to turn. With this we can support you but it also requires political courage and patience. It took us almost 50 years to get there, but we certainly can support you by sharing our experiences and are pleased to do so.

Anita Dirix Project Management
Utrecht, The Netherlands
06 50 55 50 62
adirix@planet.nl

The Observer of Perth Cycle Culture

Back in 2011, after being exposed to renowned Copenhagen based, Dutch architect Gehl, a visionary of Urban pedestrian and cycle friendly design, Amanda launched her own project observing and documenting Perth’s changing pace and style of riding bicycles.

“The cycle culture, which Gehl’s work helped flourish in Europe fascinated me and I was, and still am, envious of this lifestyle. It seems so civilised and simple because it is”, said Amanda, the mastermind of belles, pedals & chains. Her blog, a photo diary of bicycles she comes across in Perth, or anywhere else she and her co-blogger Sascha travel to, features the beautiful, bespoke treadlies people are floundering in urban spaces. It is an ode to the loved, well-made and elegant way of riding a bicycle.

Having been exposed to the European way of all things bike, Amanda noticed the change of culture in Perth, a move from total Lycra dominance to a more diverse look of the cycling landscape.  “I suddenly noticed other bikes on the street: fixies, vintage style, people wearing normal clothes, some without helmets.  I was like, ‘hang on something is happening here! Could there really be a change in the culture of movement here in Perth where car has always been king?’  I wanted to document that change so that other people could see what was happening on the streets of Perth.  I’m a very visual person and Sascha would often comment that I have eyes like a hawk. Maybe that makes me perfect for this project.  I would argue that she has become the same as me though.”

The photos of belles, pedals & chains are spontaneous anecdotes of pedal-by bike lovers on their way around town. The posts’ headlines are a testimony to the bloggers eye for detail, highlightling and naming the pictures most defining feature and leaving space for readers appreciation of the art of saving candid moments of everyday life.

The need to capture Perth’s “Europefication” was fuelled by Amanda’s desire to bring a bit of cycle friendliness home. “I really, really, really want to live in a city where riding a bike is normal, like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. I have a Danish bike myself.”

“The blog started out being about Perth but as we travel a lot we introduced photos of other cities.  It was a natural progression.  I was lucky to have been relocated to Melbourne for nearly six months in 2012 so the blog became very Melbourne centric then.  Such an inspiring city.”

“As Perth is so isolated, it’s a great way for people to check in with what’s happening in other cities. That’s really important.  I sometimes think we need to be constantly reminded of other places. The blog has become about cities and civilisation in this point in time.”

“The culture has definitely changed and there’s real momentum out there.  It was all Lycra and now you see handmade bikes, vintage, fixies and most importantly, a lot more women riding bikes.”

“We need to be doing more work though to encourage the after hours, weekend and short trips by bikes.  In Victoria, there’s been lots of work on providing infrastructure in suburbs so that people can get the shift from cars to bikes 24/7.  I think we also need to normalise riding a bike so it becomes more mainstream and for all ages. There’s still so much work to do.”

Work which Amanda and her blog are supporting and her commitment doesn’t go unnoticed. “We’ve had lots of messages via our Facebook page or through Instagram that people love the blog and can’t believe it’s based in Perth.  I just hope it might help to inspire people to dust off their bike.  I also hope we can show that riding a bike can be normal and doesn’t require special clothes, as it’s no big deal and age nor gender should be a barrier. The City of Sydney often use our photos in there bike promotion so maybe we are making a small difference somewhere.”

 

Although Amanda has been running her blog for four years now those looking for the repeat selfie on her Dutch bike will be disappointed. “Our privacy is pretty important because we want the blog to be about documenting what we see, not what WE do”, said Amanda.  “A bit of mystery is also really important.  There’s not enough mystery in our lives these days.”