1 February, 2024
"The Potential of the Ordinary Human"
Continuing our coverage of the Better Bike Social festival, organiser Joe Morris shares highlights from day two.
Architect and industry spokesman Peter Murray, OBE, spoke of his group ride across the breadth of the United States in 2013, exploring the many US cities along the way through the lens of the humble bike. It was fascinating to learn of the range of experience for the group of cyclists along the chosen route in the US, and then Ireland before the UK leg into London and the arrival point at the headquarters of the RIBA. To the surprise of many, or not perhaps, the London experience paled in comparison to that of the vast swathes of tarmac in the US...with South Dakota standing out as perhaps the least inspiring stretch of the epic migration.
One aspect to resonate, being that good things in cities happen if the mayors are engaged, and that seemed true of Pittsburgh and New York, with loads of good stories about investment in infrastructure and road user experience. And on this latter point, the most compelling reflection to land being that the associated capital costs needed to improve the rider experience of cyclists, is a fraction of the cost to execute improvements to road and rail networks, but with exponential value added improving the experience of each victim for everyone.
Next up, was Gordon Miller of Ride for Freedom, a charity focussing on the plight of the millions entrapped by the many versions of modern slaver on a global stage; 40-50 million people presently subject to trafficking, exploitation, abuse. Gordon's story was compelling, stepping into the role of the long-distance charity campaigner over many years from a humble start, and through persistence and a dogged determination, he has amassed an incredible network of institutions, organisations and groups with whom his work had made profound impact. From raising awareness, to creating mobility, helping improve the mental health and wellbeing of survivors, and ultimately remedying their lives; what he described as the four pillars.
Ride for Freedom's spectrum of influence and impact is remarkable; helping disadvantaged and vulnerable children gain access to education, tackling the European football leagues' role in the exploitation of many tens of thousands of Africans lured by the false prospects of playing first class football, through to addressing the 'county-lines' drug grooming culture, and much much more.
Last but by no means least, Oliver Moore and Phil Webb who jointly presented the Chase the Sun event and the associated feature length documentary produced last year. To quote Einstein "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." And it seems human evolution was waiting for the invention of the bicycle, according to rare footage of Steve Job's, who identified that on our own merits, we are a physically inefficient species, whilst the albatross is a wonder of biological evolution. But put an ordinary human on a bike, and there is nothing that can match us.
Chasing the Sun is a simple and elegant idea...set off on the East Coast of the UK as the sun rises above the horizon on the longest day of the year, and ride West 200miles arriving just before the sun sets back into the ocean. Oliver's initial idea, has now grown to four routes, the original in the south of England, now joined by routes in Ireland, Italy and Scotland...all with their own beauty and their own challenges, with all starting and finishing simultaneously. Oliver talked about the Kent Velo Girls, now infamous, and one of them being the only person to have completed all four rides.
On Sunday 04 February we have the honour of showing the whole film at the festival HQ, 215-217 Mare Street, London, kindly donated by Morris+Company. The programme continues tonight, Friday and Saturday, ending Sunday. Check the Velocity calendar and the Better Bike Social website for more. Tickets are free of charge and available here.
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