Manif Spaciale friday august 7 2009 Roanoke VA USA from Car Less Brit on Vimeo.
The buzz leading up to it has been killing us, but Roanoke’s Manif Spaciale finally took place last Friday. What is a Manif Spaciale? The brainchild of Roanoke sparkplug River Laker (aka CarLessBrit), it’s a live demonstration of the spatial differences between bikes and cars — how much space they occupy, on the road and in our cities.
The Roanoke Times has the story. Be sure to check out CarLessBrit’s links above. Also check out the Manif Spaciale Facebook page, and follow CarLessBrit on Twitter.
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It was only three people, not that big of a deal. People should be putting in time building bike trails and greenways, showing people how to properly put on helmets and repair flats. This is obviously just another stunt to get themselves on television for another ‘zany’ event. It’s lacking in substance.
– A Roanoke Bicyclist
Anon,
I disagree. I think the point of the event was made clear with three people and the various photo and video clips that came out of it. The goal was not to make a big deal, frankly; the point was to have respectful interaction with rush-out traffic that emphasized just how little space the bicycles took up compared to a car. I think it was a success, and I hope there are more events and that they grow.
Improving bicycle friendliness in Roanoke (or any city, really) requires a number of actions, activities and personalities. Safety training, trail building, bike repair courses are all very important, and if you are out there doing these things and encouraging others to do it, good for you! But “zany” media events are also important to build cultural visibility of cyclists and to help make cycling for transportation mainstream rather than the province of lycra-clad hard-core riders. There’s room – nay, need – for all types.
– Jeremy Holmes, Program Director, RIDE Solutions
Quick FYI: I was one of the three in manif and I donate about 100 hours per year to trail work and classroom instruction for children. Manif was a relevant event in many ways, not the least of which was the initiation of good dialogue among motorists, other cycling groups, and formal transportation groups. Plus, how often do I get to fly a Jolly Roger flag while riding? Not often enough is the correct answer.