In the vain of Ted White's 1991 Bikeumentary "Return of the scorcher" famed for having created the label "Critical Mass". Robert Alstead's "You Never Bike Alone" is Vancouver's very own record a parallel resurgence in urban bicycling.
Since Return of the Scorcher, we have seen a number of bike documentaries, mainly themed around Critical Mass, some simply an attempt to highlight police crackdowns (San Francisco's "The Truth Is Out" and more recently "Still We Ride" from New York City) But You never bike alone is much more than just another Critical Mass documentary. It's a well constructed historical sequence of events spanning the last 15 years in bicycle advocacy and activism. In fact, Critical Mass in Vancouver is just the beginning chapter of a colourful history of bike culture community development in Vancouver.
This film is comprehensive in its coverage of the evolution of Critical Mass. Robert is openly honest about the mixed feelings that some have about the relative ineffectiveness or outright counter productiveness of the rides. Beginning with a look at conflict in the early years, to a more positive and creative methodology as Critical Massers learned how to push their cause more effectively. It is clear that Critical Mass has informally spawned an impressive showcase of spin off events and community projects.
The breadth of this film is also impressive, from bike punks to city councillors the political history of the bicycle in Vancouver is analysed at a variety of levels.
This is where the documentary sets itself apart from every other I've seen, in fact I'm reluctant to call this "A Critical Mass" documentary per se. The focus substantially shifts forward to community projects and events like the world naked bike ride and chopper rides, events with a hint of Critical Mass but because of the new angle, none of the negative spin.
All in all, Vancouver and the cyclists of the street should be proud of "You Never Bike Alone" as it moves out into the world to tell the next chapter in the re-emerging age of the bicycle in western society.
Since Return of the Scorcher, we have seen a number of bike documentaries, mainly themed around Critical Mass, some simply an attempt to highlight police crackdowns (San Francisco's "The Truth Is Out" and more recently "Still We Ride" from New York City) But You never bike alone is much more than just another Critical Mass documentary. It's a well constructed historical sequence of events spanning the last 15 years in bicycle advocacy and activism. In fact, Critical Mass in Vancouver is just the beginning chapter of a colourful history of bike culture community development in Vancouver.
This film is comprehensive in its coverage of the evolution of Critical Mass. Robert is openly honest about the mixed feelings that some have about the relative ineffectiveness or outright counter productiveness of the rides. Beginning with a look at conflict in the early years, to a more positive and creative methodology as Critical Massers learned how to push their cause more effectively. It is clear that Critical Mass has informally spawned an impressive showcase of spin off events and community projects.
The breadth of this film is also impressive, from bike punks to city councillors the political history of the bicycle in Vancouver is analysed at a variety of levels.
This is where the documentary sets itself apart from every other I've seen, in fact I'm reluctant to call this "A Critical Mass" documentary per se. The focus substantially shifts forward to community projects and events like the world naked bike ride and chopper rides, events with a hint of Critical Mass but because of the new angle, none of the negative spin.
All in all, Vancouver and the cyclists of the street should be proud of "You Never Bike Alone" as it moves out into the world to tell the next chapter in the re-emerging age of the bicycle in western society.