Here's a guest post from our cicloactivista bike buddies in São Paulo, Brazil. As some of you might remember, I had a great time meeting the bike community in SP, and riding around town with Renata Falzoni and Felipe Aragonez. Needless to say, São Paulo has a special place in my heart, and I hope that I can join them for their Bike Party in the very near future (how much is airfare SF to SP?). Words by Icaro de Abreu and photos by Carlos Alkmin and Daniel Spinelli.
Bike Party São Paulo is an event inspired in the
São Francisco edition, with lights, djs and a lot of music during and in the end of the ride.
The only mission is to spread the idea of use bike in the cities, but not with a hard speech. We do believe that this way is much more attractive and easy for people to understand the reason to use a bike as their main form of transportation.
On the other hand, we do make a lot of noise, riding through the streets, but in a group, people just want have fun.
lol
I abandoned my car five years ago here in São Paulo. Everyday is more than 140 km at traffic jams. São Paulo is a chaos and something has to be done.
We are doing the bike rides, occupying the public space (its not a common thing here in São Paulo),
inviting friends on facebook every last Saturday and the participants are increasing more and more, each edition. The last one for example were more than 60 people.
We will continue with Bike Parties and hope that São Paulo becomes a better city and, who knows, inspires others to do the same.
Editor's note: If you're lucky enough to be in São Paulo this Saturday, be sure to join in the fun. The theme is Namorados.
Join this Saturday's Bike Party!
Once a booming Acropolis, now a decrepit Apocalypse.
Whose former gladiators now move ghostlike along streets.
Where steel and wheels [the other kind] were once King?
Detroit - The Motor City.
You don't need me to tell you Detroit's tragic tale of an auto industry that killed itself, its dedicated workers and their families. Do you?
I didn't think so.
Yes, Detroit is a shell of its former self, but its heart is still pumping, thanks to its dedicated residents who are nursing the city back to life.
Detroit is full of pockets of richness,
and creativity in unexpected places
with brand new arteries that reconnect its very tissue that once made it so strong.
I went to Detroit not knowing what to expect.
I came back from Detroit in awe of its will to recreate itself.
(When you go, do like me and support the local economy. Rent your bike at The Wheelhouse on the RiverWalk. They also give bike tours.)
UPDATE: A fantastic plea for preservation of Detroit's history and legacy from Julia Reyes Taubman and the BBC. Read and watch the slideshow.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18271118
