Bicycology/Text

This is a page primarily for discussing/editing drafts of text for Bicycological things other than the Bicycology Guide. Drafts are at the top of the page. Below are final texts of Bicycological stuff for reference.

Text for Website

Go to Bicycology/Website to add/edit text for the website.

Bicycological Quizasaurous

This is old info. Would be good to get a full text up here for editing...

Format: Bicycological Study of Personal Relationships with Bike, Climate Chaos Quizasuarous, Dr Bike's surgical examination.

Questions:

10. What do we need to change in order to avert catastrophic climate chaos? a) our lifestyles b) our culture c) the social structure of capitalism d) the social structure of patriarchy e) the social structure of hierarchy f) all of the above

How many puncture repair kits does it take to change an overly oil-dependent and oppressive economic system? 300, 500, 1000? even we don't know!

How many emails does it take to organise an bike-powered revolutionary cell? 542 (27/07/2006) and counting!

How many wheels per Bicycologist on the 2007 tour?

At the end of the tour, when there were 18 of us we had 17 bikes (including tandem and Brox) and 7 trailers (all two wheeled except Immy's single wheel trailer). According to Ian's calculations that makes a total of 49 wheels, or an average of 2.72 wheels per Bicycologist.

Prizes: Badges, Posters, Reflective bits and bobs, Patches, BGTBs, Puncture Repair Kits, Cider

Text for the Big Banner

How did it start?

In 2005we cycled from London to Edinburgh with around 70 others to protest against the G8 and support the environment. This inspired us to set up Bicycology Bicycology and since then we have been touring the country to spread the word about the joy of bikes.

Why a tour?

Environmental degradation, climate change, capitalism, and social justice might seem big things that are too overwhelming for individuals to do anything about. But we think that our lives would be better if we did something about them. Travelling by bike around Britain allows us to raise these issues and explore solutions face-to-face with lots of people. By doing so we also hope to show that traveling by bike is a practical and enjoyable alternative to motorised transport.

Why by bike?

We cycle because we love bikes! Bikes are fun, cheap, healthy, environmentally responsible and quick. You can learn to repair your bike or ask a friend to help you and if you treat it well your bike can last a lifetime. With a bicycle you can travel independently without relying on expensive garages, big business and the oil industry.

Who are we?

Non of us are expert cyclists or super fit monsters... maybe that's why we sometimes take longer than we expect to arrive, sometimes riding into the night! That's a cool thing about cycling... everyone can do it and everyone can ride at their own speed... If the hills get too steep, we're happy to push our bikes!

How do we organise ourselves?

We organise ourselves without a boss. We hold meetings to decide what we want to do, and how we're going to go about it. We always reach to arrive to consensus so that everyone is happy with the decisions we take. This might seem chaotic but it works and it's a lot of fun. Meetings are sometimes long but there's always time for jokes and to learn from each other's views and experiences.

How do we get everything done?

There is a lot to be done before and during our tours and other events and everyone volunteers to take on different tasks. There are always things that are more difficult or boring, but we share these tasks. In this way, no one is made to do things they don't want to do and everyone can contribute in the way that suits them best.

What do we eat?

We share food and cooking and try to buy local, organic, vegan food with the least amount of packaging. This is because we think this is the most environmental and socially-friendly kind of food. When we can we go to the bins behind the shops before shopping and use as much food as possible from there, so that food doesn't get wasted.

Where do we sleep?

We carry our sleeping bags, mats and tents.Many of the nice people along the way offer us a place to stay. Sometimes we sleep in social centres, squats or Friend's Meeting Houses, in a field or the local park. Camping in the countryside is really fun but it's good to have some nights in out of the rain!

How do we carry our things?

We carry our personal things in bags that fit on the back of our bikes. We try to take as few things as possible as on a bike the most insignificant items can quickly add up to a heavy load. Sometimes we are not very good at deciding what we need and end up carrying more stuff than necessary. The bigger and heavier things we take for the road show are carried in trailers which we share between us.

Dealing with problems

It's a big title

But fortunately activists and groups have been here before. Here's some research / some stuff I've heard of.

Express-but-not-discuss-Go-Round Here a limitless amount of time (oh, one of those I hear you exclaim) is opened up for giving space for the group to express things which have hurt, angered, annoyed, upset them as part of the group. The emphasis is on hearing but not replying; the structure must be vigorously adhered to. When someone is speaking no-one can interrupt or respond, and even if they may want to speak about the same situation themselves they must not refer to what has already been said by someone else. The purpose is to give the opportunity to simply hear how people have felt, without trying to discuss to reach some kind of resolution or right/wrong understanding of what has happened. For groups, this is used as a general health-cleanse.

Mediation This is used when there is a particular conflict between two or a few individuals. One person who is not involved in the conflict acts as mediator. There role is to ask some questions about what has happened, regulating each person's talking time if necessary, but essentially act as a sounding board to those involved in the conflict. Because the people involved in the conflict are expressing what they feel to the mediator rather than the other(s) involved they may be able to express themselves more fully without escalation into an argument. They may then find ways to mutual understanding and resolution between themselves.

Two websites to check out and taster quotes from them. Probably most of you will know of the Activist Trauma Network – they ran the Health and Well-being tent at the Climate Camp:

http://www.activist-trauma.net/index.htm

This site is primarily for political activists who may be injured during or by their political activities and or struggling with other mental health issues related to activism. Hopefully much of the information is useful to other groups and individuals who either have to face violence or repression where ever it may come from. It seems that as a movement we have not sufficiently acknowledged the psychological effects of the brutality and stress that an increasing number of us are subjected too.

http://www.activistmediation.org.uk/

Conflict in our groups and in our personal lives can massively affect our capacity for activism. Conflict is an inevitable part of life. Understanding conflict and how it affects us can help us to positively engage with it. The Activist Mediation Network is being set up to: • Promote positive strategies for responding to conflict • Offer training and skillsharing sessions to increase our movement's capacity for dealing with conflict • Offer our services as mediators to individuals and groups involved in radical social change, to support those in conflict

Bicycology

Car Culture and Climate Change Popular Education Workshop

Created using the Trapese Collective’s guide in ‘DIY: A Handbook for Changing Our World’

1) Introduction Go-Round Name Qu.: What speed would you ideally travel at if by the power of your own body you could only travel at one speed? What you are hoping to get out of the workshop.

2) Stuck in the Mud As cars Shout ‘Get me out of this jam’ when stuck Shout ‘Ring a ding ding’ when circling someone twice to free them

3) Common Ground Stand in a circle Step forward when you agree Statements prepared or by group eg, “I ride a bike to get places”

     “I’d like all cities to be car free”
     “I feel powerless in the face of climate science”
     “I want massive change now”
     “I think corporations are taking over our political processes”
     “This makes me angry”
     “I think if we all make lifestyle changes we can solve the problem”
     “I think climate change is a call for fundamental social, political and  
      economic change”
     “If more leaders were women the world would be a better place”

4) Collective Learning What is it? Shout out, write up idea-storm

5) Spider-gram mapping climate change in small groups What is happening? Why is it happening?

6) Facts… in teams, beep when you have the answer. Average cars per household = 3 or 4 Roads built in last 25years Roads built whilst being blockaded / protested Car imports (parts/whole)

7) Spectrum: NO NOT SURE YES with discussion Is nuclear power a viable alternative to fossil fuels? Is it desirable that levels of consumption in less economically developed countries equal that of those in the over developed world? Would an international governing body help? Is carbon rationing a good solution? Is grassroots change too slow? Are car free cities viable?

8) Role Plays: “Pro”, “Anti” and “Neutral” camps Prepare in camps position on decision: THE M74 EXTENSION IN GLASGOW (make locally specific) PRO = Glasgow City Council Transport Chief ANTI = Tradeston/Shettleston resident NEUTRAL = City worker who commutes by car from Hamilton

• • Don’t tell each group who they’re going to meet at the mediation table**

Each group prepares the arguments and stance of their character and one person volunteers to take on the role in the debate. Facilitator acts as mediator to initiate discussion, in role as chairperson / tv debate show host / local librarian who hosts debate etc.

9) Get Out:  Cycle ride suberversigning local authority signs / with own public notice signs.  Chillax in local transport office – we need to move less fast, more easily!  Critical mass with a sound-system.  Blockade a road (with a sound system).  Make a vegan meal together.

10) Calender of resistance: Local and national events.

11) Presents and/or Ideastorm: Presents: “If I had…”: £1000 global authority was Mayor £10000000000 “…I would…”

Ideastorm: Start with “I know, let’s all…”, where group walks around room, stopping when someone says “I know, let’s all (eg) walk on the moon” and responding with “Yes, let’s all walk on the moon”, and doing so until the next “I know, let’s all…” Add in “I know, we could…” which illicits the response “Yes, we could!”, and makes suggestions for locally based action. Eg, “I know, we could paint our own cycle paths with non-toxic paint.”

11) Another round of stuck-in-the-mud?

    De-brief Go Round: any thoughts you want to share.