Show me your bike and tell me who you are

Friday 27th, April 2012 / 14:14 Written by

 

Bicycles are rare in South Africa. Now two cycling fanatics set themselves to convince their fellow citizens of the bike’s values.  In doing so, a unique portrait of society has been created.

Bicycles are rare in South Africa. Now two cycling fanatics set themselves to convince their fellow citizens of the bike’s values. In doing so, a unique portrait of society has been created.

At the beginning Stan Engelbrecht and Nic Grobler posed the question why so few people in South Africa actually made their ways pedaling.

While bicycles are quite common in rural areas, where public transport is scarce and distances are long, you can have a hard time finding one in the cities. Certainly there are many reasons to draw on the good old two-wheeled steed. A maverick survey on South African mobility behaviour seemed overdue.

 

Independent mobility instead of spending long hours in the traffic jam

Already taking a look at the daily traffic chaos in the city centers of Johannesburg or Cape Town could make you grab a bike. While mini busses creep through town during rush hour time, Engelbrecht and Grobler move comfortably on their bikes, let alone environmental aspects.

Slowly we became interested in why so few choose to ride in a country where it makes such absolute sense to do so”, is how Engelbrecht puts the initial question to their project.

At some point Engelbrecht and Grobler came up with the idea of reviving their homeland’s gaunt cycling scene. Their aim was to warm up their fellow citizens to bikes.

Engelbrecht emphasizes that especially for the poor a bike is a rewarding alternative, even more in times of increasing gas prices. Yet not everybody in South Africa can afford such an investment. This is certainly an argument but from the very beginning Engelbrecht and Grobler shared the vision of a cycling society apart from social hierarchies:

Looking at individuals through their, sometimes unconscious, involvement in bicycle culture, we will inadvertently touch on many charged issues like the implementation of public space, lack of infrastructure development and also social problems like class division and unequal wealth distribution, but also perhaps bring those unfamiliar to each other together in their love for a simple thing…”

In reality though, they faced a contrary development:

We’ve noticed that as our major centers develop there still seems to be a trend to make cities more friendly for cars, not people.”

In order to convince notorious bike refuseniks of the benefits their wheels hold, Engelbrecht and Grobler started taking pictures of other enthusiastic cyclists around the country. Using their own bikes they toured South Africa for more than 6.000 kilometers documenting all types of cyclists. Their various encounters were captured in over 500 photos.

 

Even 82-year-old Stephanie Baker is convinced of her bike: ”I'm limited to about a kilometer in view of my age, and I use it, well, certainly every other day... about a kilometer uphill in Pretorius street. I keep on the pavements, they're in a terrible state with chunks missing, but cycling is awfully good for public relations. I know the area's cleaners at the flats on my way to church - I get a greeting from them.”

Even 82-year-old Stephanie Baker is convinced of her bike: ”I’m limited to about a kilometer in view of my age, and I use it, well, certainly every other day… about a kilometer uphill in Pretorius street. I keep on the pavements, they’re in a terrible state with chunks missing, but cycling is awfully good for public relations. I know the area’s cleaners at the flats on my way to church – I get a greeting from them.”

In this way a unique portrait of the South African society emerged. On their constantly updated website the two introduce dozens of people, who move on two wheels every day without the aid of an engine. The fun in cycling definitely is to the fore of the accompanying texts. While many people like Eric Mapheela commute between work and home daily, for others like Wouter Coetzer their morning ride al fresco combines the practical benefit with childhood memories.

Engelbrecht and Grobler are convinced that biking is more than just a cost-effective alternative to cars and overcrowded busses. In the long run they want to bring change to transport policy. Fair conditions for all road users, they say, are a necessity for social equality:

Owning a bicycle in this social climate can be very empowering, if the correct infrastructure exists.“

Until one day their aim might become true, you can take a look on their Bicycle Portraits online. Engelbrecht wants to make their project a book. With the aid of donors first of all the costs for printing and design shall be retaken. Profits then will be invested in local biking centres, training or equipment like helmets.

 

Visit Bicycle Portraits

 

Alfred Mamali: ”I’m 39 years. Born in 1972. I cannot properly use my legs because of a spinal injury. It happened in 2002. I fell from the roof. I’ve been riding this bicycle for 6 years now, it is a long time now. Mr. Eugene from Sedgefield Cycleworx built this bike for me so I can do this job here looking after cars. I love this bike - it is my wheels. Anyway... ha ha ha!”

Knapie Meyer: ”I've had many bicycles before this one. I fixed them up and ended up selling them. I taught myself how to fix it all. I had one bike that had 24 lights - but I sold it when I fell on hard times. I didn't have a job then. But I don't travel too far with my bikes - the furthest I've gone with this one is out to Oudepos, a farm out of town. I go there to drink some beers and then I come back. There's a bar there - booze, TV, music and everything. I think I'm gonna start up again with my bicycle building one of these days. This one I've got now has got a heavy gear, not so easy to pedal. But I'm satisfied with it.”

Sam Chiota: ”It was long time… I was just going… my father used to buy me bikes… so even me, I enjoy biking… even training… chase …chases …okay, I used to ride a bike, another time I rode a bike from Johannesburg to the Free State. Then from there, I got a lift up to Durban. Then here, always, I’m always riding bike. Every day. It just make me strong. That’s why I like it. I was born in Zimbabwe. I didn’t know how far is Durban was. I was thinking maybe I can ride up to Durban. I was feeling to ride up to Durban. And when I see that there is a long way, I take a lift… I was just riding but if I feel like I am tired really, I can just park my bicycle at the side of the bush and I can just eat my food because I buy my food on the way. Then I eat my food, start riding again. I’ve been here in Durban for one year, almost eighteen months. I’m doing dreadlocking. I am very busy on weekends because people will take my numbers and most of the time they go to work so we are free on the weekend to make the dreadlock. I use only a needle. I don’t put wool. I don’t even put the medicine. I use a needle called a crochet. So it’s just the hair. The hair comes together… I used to be another time three months in Cape Town… I was also busy making dreadlocks. There in Cape Town are too many Rastas so I had no clients. The price is according to how long the hair is but the price is starting from R250 for small hair, to R350, R400… it’s according to how long is the hair. If someone have got the dreadlock, I can take the dreadlock together to make it strong. If you want to take three or four together to make it strong. Dreadlocks mean something special to me - some they are doing it as a fashion but it means something special to Rasta people, because Rasta people, they believe that you mustn’t cut your hair. You must just leave it as it is because it’s natural, the hair. So Rasta people just like it as it is. Mostly they don’t like to kill something … so it’s a belief… especially me, I keep my hair. Me, I am a Rasta.”

 

 

 

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About the author

Marius Münstermann is based in Berlin where he works as a freelance journalist. Marius serves as editor-in-chief at eufrika.org.

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