Reclaim the city
- #38 Huile Smith
- May 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 4
Riding a bike as Flinta* - by Huile Smith # 38
I started riding in a collective of bike couriers, but until recently I didn't dare to repair my bike myself.
Now I see myself as a cyclist, I repair and ride independently.
First, the theory of gender identities must be explained socially. Gender identities also speak collectively, as they affect individuals but play a major role in interactions with others, within a group, and vice versa. They therefore raise questions at both the individual and collective levels, for example: how do differences in gender identity lead to differences on the street, in the city? These are the questions we ask ourselves among our Flinta* friends, and before, I didn't really see a way out.
The bike gives me free access to mobility in the city. I'm not dependent on public transport, the car... The "boys" usually leave me alone more, and I get where I want to go quickly. Sometimes I can get the feeling that the road belongs to me, with this beautiful, human-sized machine.
But for me, this is more about self-confidence than mobility from A to B. With a bike, I decide where I want to go and how fast I want to get there. This also means that my body becomes present again, as I move the bike with my muscles. This new "experience of effort" has brought me a great deal: a sweet, not too intense, everyday joy of watching my body in action. And all of this on the street, where Flinta* rarely feels completely free and safe.
However, the bicycle shouldn't be viewed as a tool for liberating Flinta*, as there are still many people who can't or simply don't like it. It can still benefit many people, so the politicization and simultaneous democratization of cycling is important. And there are already many Flinta* initiatives centered around cycling in Berlin: social rides, Flinta* alleycats, self-help workshops... I certainly hope there will be many more!
(1)Flinta*: Fermale Lesbian Intersex Non-Binary Trans Asexual *implied)
Bicycle courier "Huile Smith # 38" is part of the bicycle courier service CROW, which replaces delivery vans with cargo bikes and thus contributes to improving the quality of life in the city. The sustainable Berlin bicycle courier service also promotes a collaborative approach. More information at crowberlin.de
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