By positioning bike riding as a high status, desirable and above all, enjoyable activity, the Melbourne Bikefest aims to improve conditions for bike riders on the road.
Bikefest features art, design, forums, workshops, markets, music, screenings, bike rides and more. Just looking at the website for the Melbourne Bike Fest makes my head spin; it is a non-competitive, celebratory event for bike riders of every ability and riding style.
Bikefest takes place from the 24th – 28th of November. I’ve been through the website; I’ve clicked this and that and I’ve decided on what I think will be a good time and informative.
Here are my tips for Bikefest, highglights that are informative and a little left of centre?
2010 Treadly Awards – It’s an event for everyday cyclists, how many people can you fit on your bike? There really is a category for how many people you can fit on your bike. Here are the awards that are up for grabs:
– Sexiest Commuter Bike
– Biggest Load Carrying Capacity
– Most People on a Bicycle
– Fastest Puncture repair
– Best Dressed (+ least lycra) on a bicycle
Interested in Art? Then Rollin Contact may be the place for you: The name Rollin Contact draws from physics terminology to describe the point of contact between a wheel and its surface. For Bikefest, it represents the themes of connection and commonality between people and bikes. Between bikes and art. Between art and people.
Want to know more about the specific bike crowds and why they buy what they buy? Interested in consumer research or need to know more about trends? Bike Tribes: The Role of Design will be featuring people from Knog, Rocket Fuel, Gazelle Bicycles Australia and Little Mule Co.
Why bother with a drive in when you can go to a ‘ride in’? Projector Bike is presenting two film nights across the program, get yourself sorted, find something with two wheels and come along.
In the true style of Melbourne, the Bikefest Great Debate is on! Cars vs. cyclist, an argument by comedians, keep in mind this is only for the light hearted. Click here for the run down on who’ll be speaking and to secure your tickets. Moderated by Josh Earl and featuring comedian debaters; Hannah Gadsby, Charlie Pickering, Bart Freebairn, Lawrence Leung, Harley Breen and Andrew McLelland.
This session is very high on my list of things to not miss – Cultural Shift: Women on Bikes. Creating a cultural shift within society starts with women; can women change the perception of bike riders? Panelists are joining this session from Monash, Travel Behavior Change at GHD, the new mag called Treadlie, Green Magazine and the State of Design.
You will find Bikefest details, programs and tickets (average $12) online: www.melbournebikefest.com.au. Unless otherwise specified on the program, most sessions and events will be held at the 1000 ? Bend space at 361 Little Lonsdale Street.