BIKER CHIC HITS OTTAWA STREETS
‘You don’t need to give up style while riding’
Zara Ansar wants to bring street style back to Ottawa’s streets — by freeing cyclists from the constraints of spandex. Since 2011, she has run a blog called Ottawa Vélo Vogue, documenting in photographs the colourful intersection between the cycling lifestyle and the world of fashion.
On Saturday, the blog will host the third edition of its bike fashion show, a fundraiser for the RightBike program. The Citizen’s Adam Feibel spoke with Ansar and her fellow event organizer Dawson Hamilton about how the city can see more style amid its spokes.
Q What do you think of Ottawa as a cycling city?
A Ansar: We have a lot of cycling paths, which is nice, but I think we need more to connect the rest of the city. I’m using my friend as an example, who lives in Barrhaven, and he doesn’t have enough bike paths to get him to work — he’ll have to ride along Woodroffe, and it’s too close to cars. There needs to be more segregated bike lanes. But other than that, a lot of people bike in Ottawa.
Q What about Ottawa as a fashionable city?
A Ansar: Well, I’m starting to see a lot more fashionable people in the city. I think it’s also helping that we have new shops opening up and new stuff coming in, and people aren’t as shy to wear certain things. Ottawa’s still pretty conservative, but it’s changing.
Q How long have you noticed that change?
A Ansar: Probably in the last few years. I mean, that’s kind of why I started the blog. I noticed a surge.
Q So what can encourage people to ride a bike and be fashionable at the same time?
A Ansar: It’s about dressing for your destination. I’d like to see more people wear their work clothes to wear to work on their bikes. What I’ve noticed is a lot of people think they need special clothes to wear, or they have to come into work and change because they smell bad or they need to shower. But people in Europe bike in their regular clothing all the time. It’s not a big deal over there. Everyone dresses well. It’s weird here — we’re too car-centric in North America.
Q What’s the message of this bike fashion event?
A Hamilton: It’s about showing off that you can wear what you want, and it’s all about getting more people onto bikes. It’s going to be a good time, and we’ll show off lots of garments, whether they’re vintage, new, sexy or functional. It’s about giving people the idea that you can hop on a bike wearing anything.
Ansar: I think the younger generation seems to be adopting that more, because a lot of us can’t afford cars, and biking is a great option: it’s healthy, you stay in shape, you’re helping the environment. I think there needs to be more education about it. But I think a lot of people are just afraid, because they think they need all this special equipment. You don’t need to give up style while riding your bike.
Q So do you think if people feel like they can be stylish, more of them will start biking?
A Ansar: It’s not just promoting fashion and biking, but about wearing regular clothes and feeling confident in what you’re wearing, and not having to wear Lycra and these very sporty garments — to encourage everyday cycling, and getting on a bike as much as possible. It’s showing that you can look good, wear the clothes you want, and dress for your destination, and if it can increase cycling, I think that’s the main goal — to get people on bikes and get cyclists together.