Two wheeled tributes

By Julian Broadhead

Whether you regard yourself as Lance Armstrong’s natural successor, a single-speed toting courier or someone who’d prefer to have a wicker basket on the front, cycling has evolved as probably the best form of city transport. If you haven’t been on a bike recently, we would strongly encourage you to re-acquaint yourself, as there’s nothing quite like getting about under your own steam, legs pumping and feet spinning.

Yet it is also worth bearing in mind that, despite its growing popularity, cycling should be approached with a certain amount of preparation and sensible caution. Whilst you are by no means taking your life in your hands (statistically in the UK, one cyclist is killed for every twenty million miles of cycling), it is worth bearing in mind that we are the most vulnerable road users.

Against this backdrop, Ghostbikes www.ghostbikes.org is a particularly commendable initiative. Originally started as an art project in San Francisco in 2002, it was soon adopted and evolved by the cycling community as a way to commemorate fallen cyclists. Simply, an old bike (stripped down to deter theft or vandalism) is painted white and placed in the location where the rider has been killed, with an accompanying plaque. It has clearly touched people, with ghost bikes now on display in numerous locations across fifteen countries.

Yet the scheme has not been without its critics. Aside from bureaucratic objections to mounting bicycles in public spaces, there has also been some debate about the impact of the installations. Detractors maintain that the pieces discourage people from taking up cycling because they highlight mortalities, despite the fact that these are extremely rare. For its advocates however, the positives are twofold; firstly, to commemorate those who have died so tragically and secondly, to act as a timely reminder to both cyclists and drivers about respecting those with whom they share the road.

For us at VivaCity, the outtake is clear. Be sensible but not daunted, get out there and pedal, pedal, pedal.

why vivacity

This is the century of the city.

Over half the world’s population now live in cities. This is projected to rise to three-quarters of all people in 2050. With population increases, this means 6.75 billion of us will be city dwellers, an increase of 3.75 billion from today. As the future success or failure of mankind lies in cities, new ways of using them are needed.

The city represents an incredible paradox. We have never been closer together physically, but we have never been further away from each other emotionally. At vivacity we celebrate city movements around the world that change and re-define the way we interact with and use cities. Whilst cities cannot cope with the numbers now and the resultant strain on the world’s natural resources and eco-systems are already painfully evident, we believe that human spirit and endeavor will overcome, as it has done before.

vivacity promotes city movements that are connecting people & creating new types of communities. They are typically low impact, highly sociable, enabled by technology, using public and private spaces in new ways and empowering people to act locally.

vivacity promotes new ways of feeling alive, new ways of being invigorated, and new things to be a part of. We call it grassroots stuff in the city. We hope you get involved and share your experiences with us.

who we are

Andy Marks vivacity founder and editor

Social entrepreneur, lecturer, writer and curator, Andy Marks is an agent of positive social change practicing at the intersection or fault-line of business, society and culture. Andy is the founder of research and consultancy network Salad Worldwide, an advisor to some of the world’s leading companies on Corporate Responsibility and an advisor to a number of non-profit organizations. Andy is an expert on grass roots city movements, and a founding partner of an upcycling enterprise launching in 2010.

Julian Broadhead contributor

With a background in advertising, branding and corporate responsibility, Julian works with blue-chip companies from a wide range of industries and sectors, advising on strategy and new ways of connecting with people. He is currently developing a number of new opportunities in the environmental sector, with a particular emphasis on making environmental action more accessible.

Shane Solanki – contributor/distributor/carburettor/carbon-ara

Artist, writer, performer, producer and director, Shane’s first short film was commissioned by the BBC and directed by Peter Cattaneo. His first record was produced by Mercury Prize Winner Talvin Singh. He worked for years to forge the unique identity of independent record label Ninja Tune. We at Vivacity like to think of him as a grass roots detective, covertly operating under the pseudonym of the Last Mango in Paris; imagine him skulking around the world in a beige macintosh, recording and documenting our shift into a society where social responsibility and public creativity are norms.

contribute

become a vivacity scout

As more and more of us live in urban areas, individuals and communities can feel overwhelmed and isolated by the sheer intense-city of it all.

However we at vivacity believe that human spirit and endeavor will overcome as it has done so many times before. That is why we are celebrating movements around the world that are changing and re-defining the way we interact with the city. We would like to hear from you about grassroots movements or activities that bring people together face to face and use cities in new ways. The more original and imaginative the better.

Please email us describing a movement you would like to see on vivacity using a maximum of 300 words. info@vivacity.me