Writing The City

The events of this weekend have proven to be an outworking of South Africa’s hard earned freedom, at a national level with the inauguration of the President and much more personally on a bicycle with an unsanctioned Freedom Ride through the streets of Cape Town. 

Freedom is an incredibly complex organism to me. It holds the fragility of history with the embellishment of hope, all the while being tied together in such a way that underscores the importance of stability and structure. An ‘anything goes’ approach usually paves the way for everything to go. Freedom to me is a coherent understanding of context and a firm foundation for dreaming.

The planned Cape Town Freedom Ride is a 27km bicycle ride that looks to understanding and overcoming the structure of our cities as frameworks which constrain social cohesion. It’s a social ride, moving a diverse grouping of cyclists through a diverse set of neighborhoods with each kilometer representative of Madiba’s years of incarceration.

Historically, the apartheid government in South Africa used infrastructure to intentionally separate, insulate and intimidate various race groups. Roads, rail and bulk service services carve the city into communities that can and should be reconciled. After 20 years of democracy, rhetoric and good intentions haven’t changed much on the ground. The bicycle however has proven to be the most noblest of inventions.

After the rejection of the Freedom Ride event application by the City of Cape Town (with the suggestion to postpone to a later date), our motley crew of organizers and cyclists rode the route today anyway. Discovering the joys, surprises and elevations to be enjoyed by thousands on the new date 16^th June. We set off as scheduled - a handful of cyclists attempting to bridge the divides. Within minutes, our bicycles soared over and under those structures meant to separate. Our compassion moved beyond where it was permitted before. We saw, we spoke, we were left speechless and we acknowledged all we took in.

We arrived at our destination, full of renewed enthusiasm to share this route with others. We stopped finally at City Hall, where Madiba had given his first speech after his release from prison in 1990. It is a fitting end to a ride that honors his legacy of knitting together difference with a time to reflect on what we will say of our ride once we have allowed ourselves to see our city with more compassion. I arrived just ahead of the other riders to quite an unexpected sight. A young man standing below Madiba’s balcony holding a bunch of orange tulips, his eyes darting around nervously, expectantly. A first date!

How fitting on a weekend that holds such promise for our country, to end this moving journey with the image of a young man hoping to find a future. Waiting. Looking. Knowing that when he has a chance he must be his best. 

Thank you Madiba for waiting, taking the chance you were given and giving us a future by giving us your best. We will honor you with thousands or riders on June 16th. I will bring tulips.

For more information on this unfolding story follow @contestedspaces and @FreedomRideCT 

Future Bridge