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

 

Origami City

Sprocket has changed me.

I set out with the desire to gather the empirical, and rather I empirically grew in my desire to ride the city. Sprocket is the Dahon folding bike that I have had the pleasure of utilizing while her owners were abroad.  20 inch wheels, 9 speed,  city style handle bars and a 12 second fold and pack into the boot of my hatchback. It has been nothing short of delight.

My initial intentions were to further understand the barriers to entry for commuters wishing to leave their aluminum cages and transition to non motorized transport. The term ‘last mile’ is often used to describe the greatest of these hindrances. This is the transition between the endpoints and the predominant form of transport utilized in a journey. Thus, the walk from home to the station, or the necessary taxi trip from station to office. Multiple leg journeys are tiresome and expensive, playing to the seduction of the motor vehicle. How can bicycle commuting address these ‘last mile challenges’?

Sprocket is only the second bike I have ever ridden. The first was a grand dame; a 30 year old fixed gear vintage bicycle. The Mars Rover. The first vehicle to take me outside of my universe of vehicle dependency. She weighs in at a hefty 18kg and sings a delightful whirring squeak song when we travel in sync. I was unsure how I would adapt to the Dahon, whose caffeine-overloaded composure was beckoning me to weave in-between the traffic of Adderley Street.

What was an experiment in the ‘last mile’ became the conduit to experience every mile. How simple it was to put Sprocket in the car and quickly take a spin around the promenade or zip through Company Gardens for a lunch break. I explored Woodstock, Rondebosch and Diepriver in a single morning. The same way a weathered Capetonian keeps a beach towel in the car, just in case the opportunity to make memories present themselves,  I had Sprocket. Just in case.

Lest the riders of other magnificent machines turn there nose up at the BMX proportions and compact components, let me emphasize that a folding bike can be workhorse when required. The difference is that this rider hydrates with cappuccinos! Two memorable trips of 20km+ took Sprocket and I to the edges of the city. My first long commute unfolded (!) up the west coast as I explored that most odd occurrence in our city: the heroic MyCiti bus network and its side kick cycle route winding up to the urban edge at Eden on the Bay. It was leisurely, exquisite and suited me perfectly to pop my bike in the back of a friend’s car after a surf.  

The second long commute was a joyous exploration of the cities lesser know cycle paths. I'm still looking for adjectives that can describe a trip where the destination is not fixed. Quite the antithesis of the last mile, for which this agile wanderer was well suited.

The question is not what can a folding bike do. Rather, what will I do without one when I return Sprocket to her owner?

1-800-U-STORE

Months ago when I vowed to uncover the barriers to entry for car lovers to move to cycling, I didn't think the answer would be as simple as one word.

Stuff.

I took on the mammoth task of cleaning our car this weekend. What a joy it is to drive around in my own personal mobile storage unit. Truly. I have a beach towel, cozzie, fleece jacket and beanie at hand for every Cape Town weather condition. Breath mints, a hairbrush, a pair of flats (girls applaud), extra lipgloss and a range of music to mentally prepare myself for using any of the listed items. That's all to be found upfront. Behind the drivers seat you can find warm jackets for kids, extra shoes (unisex so no child has an excuse) water, reading material and at least 2 hats. Crushed nik-naks are optional extras.

I am grateful that storage costs will be going down by 15c/litre on Wednesday.

When I ride my bicycle I have as little as possible. I even reluctantly removed my beloved R2D2 keyring so as to lighten the load. My diary, my phone and some pens. I couldn't be happier.

But..but..but.. you say, what happens if I need all that STUFF and its not there? Then I don't have it. I'll borrow, I'll go without, and I can neither confirm nor deny that I may have just swum in my undergarments when required!

After the big car clean up was complete, I put very little back in.
I have vowed to only take only what I need. This may be the very sustainability message the bike will convey most effectively.

Come ride with me and let go of stuff.