For us city dwellers, riding a bike enables our freedom. Freedom to move at a pace we chose, the way we chose. Mission Bike Company recently made a beautiful video illustrating the freedom, excitement and exhilaration people experience as they navigate their way between destinations on two wheels.
Just released is this trailer for the film The Bicycle City. The film documents what happens when you give an impoverished community 20,000 bicycles. Pedals for Progress, an American based non-profit has been bringing bikes to Rivas, Nicaragua for the past 20 years.
The result? Personal freedom, empowerment and an efficient, reliable, clean source of transport. No need for petrol or even paved roads to get from point A to B. Just two feet and a bit of motivation.
Although it’s not an earth shattering invention, the bike has had a profound impact on Rivas, making people’s lives easier through two-wheeled transport. And Rivas is only the beginning of this cycling revolution.
Ps- Check out more ways to Pedal the pedals, a superior mode of transport.
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
