Work to build a biking culture
ON SATURDAY, April 21, Open Streets convened a group of cycling enthusiasts to engage with two top speakers sharing insights into what it might take to make bicycles an everyday thing in Cape Town.
Dr Njogu Morgan, reflecting on his PhD that focused on a comparative analysis of cycling in cities such as Johannesburg and Beijing, and Lebogang Mokwena, Cape Town’s inaugural bicycle mayor, embarked on a mission to teach women how to cycle.
The former was a historical analysis of the evolution of cities in this respect, and the latter a personal account of engaging with the bicycle as a tool of self-discovery.
Both were reflections of the power this never-ageing piece of technology can have in our individual psyches and societies at large.
The aim of the meeting was to address the issue of inclusivity and, as Mokwena put it, “how to make the circle bigger” when it comes to cycling in a city such as Cape Town.
The irony of most such gatherings, as she also pointed out, is that she was “preaching to the converted” – hardly the right people to shed light on why cycling is not an everyday thing in Cape Town.
Nevertheless, the group reflected on what cycling brings about, from a fun activity that provides people of all ages an opportunity to interact and engage with streets, to an opportunity for social upliftment.
The concerns shared at the start of the session were all too familiar, and related to safety and security, poor infrastructure and the lack of an integrated system that allows for bicycles to be transported in trains.
The formal presentations followed. Morgan shared the cycling stories of Beijing, Amsterdam, Chicago and Johannesburg and outlined how, despite the complexity of each, they all had similarities – largely around the key political decisions and the involvement of social movements in catalysing change. Not all decisions were popular, of course. He explained how in Beijing, the communist apparatus facilitated a decision to ban cars in order to develop a sense of “being part of a collective”. Similarly in Amsterdam, the government banned competitive cycling races on public roads, to prevent a distinction between sport and utility.
In Johannesburg, on the other hand, the political philosophy of apartheid resulted in the state discouraging a cycling culture among non-white residents, as it was a threat to the state’s ability to control movement of the black majority. This was based on a need to hold power through limiting the freedom of movement of communities.
In terms of culture, it was interesting to hear that in Amsterdam the “Calvinist approach” was very strong and that it was considered in bad taste to show wealth and own a car. So politicians and the monarchy were among those who cycled from the outset. In contrast, Chicago has seen an increase in cycling but experienced the challenges of doing so in an equitable manner, and struggles with programmes like bike sharing catering mainly to the wealthy.
Interestingly, social movements have emerged to counter this trend. Each city presented the elements for great storytelling, and Morgan was unapologetic about his conclusion that the history of cycling was related to the struggle for building power bases. The newly announced bicycle mayor for Cape Town, Mokwena, captivated the audience with her inspiring story of falling in love with the bicycle. It took her from frustration and embarrassment at not being able to cycle as an adult, to committing to ensuring other women would have an opportunity to learn to cycle and to maximise the benefits it can bring to one’s life in a city.
She reflected on how her parents’ generation cycled to work, and so riding a bike was considered an essential skill. Yet she never learnt to cycle, partly because there was no reason to ride, as workplaces were far from residential areas. Joburg’s geography discouraged cycling, and bikes were expensive. Mokwena reflected on the critical role bicycles can play in a city with economic disparities and power imbalances, like Cape Town.
“If we are able to make bicycle mobility available to the poorest, the ones who live the furthest from the centres, and women, we’re probably a step closer to having a meaningful conversation about how we make cycling for all,” she said.
Her message was clear and succinct. The first step was to impart knowledge and the ability to cycle. Infrastructure would not be used unless people not only knew how to cycle but felt compelled to do so.
She spoke specifically about the cultural value of the bicycle in a society where the automobile is still a symbol of aspiration and success. “Development is not all of us driving flashy BMWs. It’s also about very simple lives that allow us to do the things that we really value without having to always spend money on those things.”
Following the presentations, the group discussed a wide range of issues, from the impact of cycling in the economy of a city and congestion challenges in Cape Town, to the need for individuals to advocate for safety. While the British and the Dutch cycling economies have helped people save billions in health costs, and while in some cities the bicycle economy is an engine for growth, it is clear that in our city we are not yet ready to reap the economic benefits of a fully fledged cycling ecosystem.
We must start with the basics, which include teaching people to cycle and providing them with the facilities, such as bicycle parking and other creative forms of encouragement. Last Thursday, Open Streets supported the bike mayor by inviting people who commute from the southern suburbs to join a #Bike2Work bike bus, which entailed a group of cyclists riding together from Palmyra Junction in Claremont to the Cape Town CBD.
This was a demonstration of how simple steps can help us invigorate the spirit of the bicycle in our city. Guerrero Casas is passionate about cities, public space and, most importantly, people. Her personal and professional drive emanates from connecting with others and contributing to improve the place where she lives. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, she lived in the US before moving to South Africa in 2006. She holds a Master’s in public administration and international affairs from Syracuse University.
She has worked in policy and advocacy for almost 10 years in organisations that include the Carter Center, Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Partcipation, and Fairtrade Africa. Guerrero Casas moved to Joburg in 2006 and worked in Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Kenya before moving permanently to Cape Town in 2011. She is also a co-founder of Otro SUR, a platform for cultural exchange between Latin American and sub-Saharan African countries and was a contributor to the African Centre for Cities’ Serious Fun project in 2014.
Guerrero Casas is co-founder and managing director of Open Streets