Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Wheelie great way to make drivers think
AN art display consisting of 69 red bicycle wheels is turning heads in Bath’s George Street.
The artwork, by textile artist Alison Harper, has been created to make visible the level of air pollution in the historic city.
She said: “I am proud of the artwork and want people to realise the impact they are having. Hopefully it will make people think.”
The wheels have been placed in George Street as it is one of the city’s hot spots for high levels of air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide created from vehicle exhausts.
There are 69 wheels to represent the area of Bath which has the highest level of air pollution, the junction of Churchill Bridge and London Road.
In that location air pollution levels have been recorded as being as high as 69 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre.
The European Unions Air Quality Directive has set a limit on nitrogen dioxide at 40 micrograms per cubic metre, meaning the junction of Churchill Bridge and London Road breaches legal limits.
Ms Harper has been living in Batheaston for 35 years and thinks the level of pollution in the city has gotten worse.
She collected 69 used bicycle wheels, coloured them red and embellished them with cloth and yarn.
Julian House Bike Workshop and Bath and North East Somerset Midland Road Recycling Centre helped her collect the bike wheels for the installation, all of which would have otherwise been destined for the tip.