You Never Bike Alone (2007)

Documentary looks at the development of vibrant bike culture in Vancouver, Canada, and how the city's self-propelled population mobilized to promote the bicycle as a viable for of transport... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Alstead

Writer:

Robert Alstead

Stars:

Russell Adams, Fred Bass, Jane Buker

Cast

Credited cast:
Russell Adams	...	Himself, Cycle Activist
Fred Bass	...	Himself, Vancouver City Councillor (as Dr. Fred Bass)
Jane Buker	...	Herself, freak-biker
Gordon Campbell	...	Himself - Premier of British Columbia Canada, Canada
Larry Campbell	...	Himself - Mayor of Vancouver
Richard Campbell	...	Himself, Director of Active Transportation, B.E.S.T.
Derek Corrigan	...	Himself, Mayor of Burnaby
Kevin Falcon	...	Himself, Transportation Minister, British Columbia, Canada
Bonnie Fenton	...	Chair, Vancouver City Council Bicycle Advisory Committee
Jim Hoehnle	...	Himself, Director of Pedal Play
Steve Kisby	...	Himself, bike activist
Peter Ladner	...	Himself, Vancouver City Councillor
Carmen Mills	...	Herself, Organizer of Commercial Drive Car-Free Festival
Gordon Price	...	Himself, Urban Planning Consultant
William Rees	...	Himself, Professor, University of British Columbia, SCARP. Founder of Ecological Footprint Analysis.

Storyline

Documentary looks at the development of vibrant bike culture in Vancouver, Canada, and how the city's self-propelled population mobilized to promote the bicycle as a viable for of transport. You Never Bike Alone shows how the foundation for today's burgeoning bike scene in the city was set in the early Nineties when cyclists risked arrest by cycling en masse to publicize unsafe road conditions and rides of the mid-Nineties which were sometimes characterized by arrests. Rides with mutant bike collective MC3, The Wholesome Undie (an underwear ride where cyclists protest the Molson Indy), and the World Naked Bike Ride, provide amusing and entertaining spectacle, while film also shows how cyclists are dealing with road rage and the political struggle at municipal and provincial levels to create a more livable city.

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Plot Keywords:

protest | world naked bike ride | cycling | bicycle | pubic hair | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

You Never Bike Alone Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2007 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

ICYCLE.CA Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'You Never Bike Alone' features 4 Vancouver mayors: Gregor Robertson (mayor 2008-), Sam Sullivan (mayor 2005-2008), Larry Campbell (mayor 2002-2005), and Gordon Campbell (mayor 1986-1983).

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Quotes

Gordon Price - Urban Planning Consultant: You can't build your way out of congestion. They will tell you that. So what are we going to try and do? Build our way out of congestion.

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Connections

References The Passionate Eye: Naked (2005)

User Reviews

From Vancouver with (velo)love

I never thought I could achieve that sensation of pure exhilaration I get when riding "in Mass" from simply watching a movie, but I did with You Never Bike Alone. YNBA is an inspirational and informative look at the beautiful bicycle culture Vancouver has developed over the last decade or so.

Everyone comes out for the ride in YNBA -- from politicians organizing mass rides on the Lion's Gate bridge to funky freak bikers showing off their choppers, Vancouver seems to have a Mass for everyone! As a Toronto cycling advocate I have to admit I felt a bit jealous of Vancouver's ribbon-and-cake cutting bike lane opening ceremonies and their thousands-strong Critical Masses. On the flip side, I was saddened to see how Van bikers are still fighting for safe passage on many of their city's bridges.

Although this film is rooted in the evolution of Critical Mass it really does a great job showing off Vancouver's incredibly vibrant and cohesive cycling culture.

Now, if only they could get a bike lane on the Burrard street bridge.