Plain Bicycle

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"This is not a bike shop, this is a culture bomb" Plain Bicycle is a 6 part mini-series that asks the question; can bicycle culture be imported? The podcast follows a group of Canadians who travel to the Netherlands to fill a shipping container with second hand Dutch bicycles to bring home to Canada. Host Erin Riediger speaks to the Plain Bicycle Project team and Dutch cycling experts Herbert Tiemens and Modacity’s Melissa Bruntlett and Chris Bruntlett. Plain Bicycle investigates why cycling is so prevalent in the Netherlands, what Dutch bicycle culture is and how it may have the power to influence everyday transportation in North America.

Erin Riediger


    • Jun 1, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 6 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Plain Bicycle

    Part 6 - Bike Boom 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 62:47


    The Plain Bicycle Project team is in Europe, about to travel to Utrecht to load a third shipping container with second hand Dutch Bicycles bound for Canada when COVID-19 becomes a global health concern and international travel is brought to a grounding halt. Dutch bicycle policy expert Herbert Tiemens discusses his involvement in the project and the global renewed interest in cycling during COVID-19 times. Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, authors of Building the Cycling City discuss the recent Bike Boom and what needs to happen in cities to make cycling a viable form of transportation as we emerge from lockdown. Follow Erin Riediger on Twitter @erinriediger Follow Plain Bicycle on Instagram @plainbicyclepodcast

    Part 5 – Bicycles Are For Everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 42:58


    Host Erin Riediger attends the launch of Round 2 of the Plain Bicycle Project. The project team discuss where they see the future of the project going, speak about transportation culture and identity and reflect on what Plain Bicycle means for them. Melissa and Chris Bruntlett from Modacity discuss how their advocacy work helps to encourage more people to give riding a bicycle a try. Herbert Tiemens comments on his experiences cycling in the Netherlands and visiting Winnipeg’s streets. Follow Erin Riediger on Twitter @erinriediger Follow Plain Bicycle on Instagram @plainbicyclepodcast

    Part 4 - Not Your Typical Consumer Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020 35:24


    The Plain Bicycle Project team discusses the experience of getting the Dutch bicycles in to the hands of their customers in round 1. A few years later, The Plain Bicycle team launches round 2 of the project and host Erin Riediger follows their progress in real time as the bicycles make their way to Winnipeg and are prepared to meet their new owners. Melissa and Chris Bruntlett of Modacity talk about the opportunity in North American cities to adapt the Dutch way of cycling for shorter trips. Follow Erin Riediger on Twitter @erinriediger Follow Plain Bicycle on Instagram @plainbicyclepodcast

    Part 3 - A Plan In Motion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 35:04


    Anders Swanson, Leigh Anne Parry and Torrin Swanson travel to the Netherlands to carry out the project. They soon run in to issues with their planned accommodations and locating a bike supply. Chris and Melissa Bruntlett of Modacity speak to the city of Rotterdam and the Dutch philosophy of designing and re-designing their streets. Dan Reihl and Jenny Sawatzky explain how the 2nd hand bicycle market in the Netherlands ends up with so many unclaimed bikes. The group discovers the complexities of shipping goods over international waters. Follow Erin Riediger on Twitter @erinriediger Follow Plain Bicycle on Instagram @plainbicyclepodcast

    Part 2 - This Is About Culture, Not Business

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 42:22


    Anders Swanson and Leigh Anne Parry explain how the idea for the Plain Bicycle project emerged from an artist residency trip to the Hague in 2015. Host Erin Riediger investigates what Plain Bicycle culture in the Netherlands is like and why it is important to bring back to Canada by interviewing Dutch cycling expert Herbert Tiemens. Erin speaks to Melissa Bruntlett and Chris Bruntlett of Modacity about the cultural shift they experienced when they moved their family from Vancouver to Delft in 2019. Follow Erin Riediger on Twitter @erinriediger Follow Plain Bicycle on Instagram @plainbicyclepodcast

    Part 1 - I'm Not A Cyclist, I'm Just Riding My Bike

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 37:44


    Host Erin Riediger meets the team behind the Plain Bicycle Project and begins to unravel why importing everyday bicycle culture from the Netherlands is important. This episode describes Dutch bicycles and what sets them apart from bicycles in North America. Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, authors of Building the Cycling City share their thoughts on Dutch bicycle culture. Herbert Tiemens, from the Province of Utrecht speaks to what sets Dutch cycling apart and his involvement in the project.

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