The War on Cars BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH BICYCLES AT VELO-CITY
10 snips
Jul 15, 2025 
Eleanor McMahon, Chair of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, shares her inspiring journey after a personal tragedy led her to advocate for cycling safety. During the Velo-city conference, she discusses how bicycles can create solidarity, connect communities, and promote democracy. The conversation highlights Gdansk’s cycling transformation and explores the historical significance of cycling in social movements. McMahon emphasizes the role of cycling in combating climate change and enhancing urban lifestyles, showcasing its power to build relationships and bridge divides.
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Bicycles Solve Multiple Problems
- Bicycles address many social challenges simultaneously, including public health, inequality, and air quality.
- Cycling solutions, though mundane, have broad impact and fix multiple systemic problems.
Start Change with Grassroots Action
- Individuals should initiate change through grassroots cycling advocacy.
- Governments often follow winning proposals demonstrated by committed citizens.
Smart Button Saves Bike Bus
- Catherine Corey shared a story about getting a smart remote for a large bike bus to safely cross busy intersections in Glasgow.
- This innovation held traffic lights green longer for 60 cyclists, reducing dangerous incidents and winning awards.
