YoCo Labs in collaboration with York Cycle Campaign & Cycle Heaven presents a screening of Together We Cycle followed by an open discussion.
Across the UK, local authorities talk of “encouraging active transport” and here in York issues around walking, cycling and vehicle use have regularly sparked discussion and indeed conflict in recent years. The masterplan and outline planning consent for York Central – often described as the most significant new part of York in a generation – claims it makes cycling “an attractive mode of transport” with “the provision of high quality primary cycle routes”. What does it actually take to shift movement to cycling though, and where do we look for evidence?
The film Together We Cycle investigates the critical events that have led to the revival of the Dutch cycling culture. For most people, cycling in the Netherlands seems a natural phenomenon. However, until the 1970s the development of mobility in the Netherlands followed trends across the globe. The bicycle had had its day, and the future belonged to the car. The only thing that had to be done was to adapt cities to the influx of cars. Then Dutch society took a different turn. Against all odds people kept on cycling. The question why this happened in the Netherlands, has not an easy answer. There are many factors, events and circumstances that worked together, both socially and policy-wise. In Together We Cycle, key players tell the story of the bumpy road which led to the current state where cycling is an obvious choice for most citizens.
We will screen this new, feature-length film via Zoom and will follow it with around an hour’s discussion of the issues it raises and in particular how it might guide thinking around creating new parts of our city which truly enable cycling, and creating good change in existing public space. We will be joined from the Netherlands by the film-makers, and look forward to a rich and well-informed discussion.